Brandon schools spray painted with anti-Semitic words

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This article was published 16/06/2019 (1773 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON — Brandon police are searching for a man who is suspected of spray painting two Brandon schools with racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic words on Saturday.

The exterior of Vincent Massey High School and Linden Lanes School were still covered in hateful and vulgar comments on Sunday morning, including all the doors to the front entrance of the building.

“I would describe it as disgusting,” said Brandon Police Service Staff Sgt. Guy Roberts when reached for comment on Sunday afternoon. “Certainly hate like that has no place in this community.”

It’s the first time he said he could recall a hate crime to this extent occurring in the Brandon community.

Some of the graffiti spray painted in white on the doors to Vincent Massey appeared to be directed at a specific person.

“It’s very sad and it’s very ugly,” Brandon School Division board chair Linda Ross said.

Police were notified of the graffiti at both schools by people in the area, Roberts said. The incident is believed to have happened sometime between 4:30 and 5 a.m. on Saturday.

A male suspect was identified from video surveillance as being possibly in his mid to late teens or early 20s. He was wearing a black or navy sweater or track jacket with a hood and two red or orange stripes on each sleeve from the shoulder to the wrist, and some red or orange striping along the seams of the torso.

He was wearing black pants and shoes with a white sweater underneath the outer layer, a black ball cap with a red peak and a black bandana over his face. He was carrying a black backpack with orange writing across the front.

Both incidents are connected, police said, since black, blue and white spray paint were used to vandalize both schools.

In speaking with the investigator on Saturday, Roberts said it was his understanding that the Brandon School Division was taking steps to remove the graffiti.

When reached for comment Sunday, Ross said the rain could have been a factor in cleaning it up.

“I imagine they’re being hampered by the rain,” she said. “I don’t know what they can do in the rain to clear it off.”

Police are continuing to investigate.

“We’re hoping that with the photo that was released that somebody will identify the person that was responsible,” Roberts said.

If anyone knows the identity of the person, they are asked to contact Brandon Police Service or Crime Stoppers.

— Brandon Sun