Graffiti on Outside Wall of Local Business Investigated as a Hate Crime

Pasadena police are investigating a graffiti incident involving racial slurs and derogatory symbols as a hate crime.

Officers were dispatched at approximately 12:48 p.m. on Oct. 17 after the reporting party, a 44-year-old Pasadena man, was alerted by a customer to graffiti on the wall of the business in the 700 block of North Lake Avenue, according to Pasadena Police Lieutenant Thomas Blanchard.

Upon checking the property, the man saw racially offensive language and symbols drawn on the exterior wall, Blanchard said.

Blanchard confirmed the incident is being classified as a hate crime and said the investigation remains ongoing.

Surveillance footage from the area captured two suspects believed to be involved, Blanchard said. Both are described as men in their early to mid-20s. One was wearing a green shirt and green camouflage cargo pants, while the other was dressed in a blue T-shirt, blue jeans, and black-and-white tennis shoes, according to Blanchard.

The footage did not indicate the exact time the graffiti was applied, Blanchard said.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Pasadena Police at (626) 744-4241 or report information anonymously by contacting “Crime Stoppers” at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) via your smartphone by downloading the “P3 Tips” Mobile App on Google Play or the Apple App Store, or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org