Investigators Look for Racist Graffiti Artist in Three Counties
By Dave Franzman, Reporter
A tarp covers racial graffiti that were spray-painted on the Cedar Falls sign on Highway 218 near Dunkerton Rd. Photographed on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010. Officers from Bremer County Sheriff, Butler County Sheriff and Cedar Falls Police put out a release Monday noting vandalism cases in multiple counties with a likely connection. (Mark Benischek/KCRG)
By
Dave Franzman
Story Created:
Feb 9, 2010 at 5:27 PM CST
Story Updated:
Feb 9, 2010 at 6:26 PM CST
CEDAR FALLS- Vandalizing signs, bridges and other public property in isolated parts of rural Iowa is nothing new. But three law enforcement agencies say something new is going on right now in parts of northern Iowa.
What's new is a graffiti artist who has spray painted similar racial slurs, hate messages and swastikas in three different counties.
The latest defacing with a racial tone happened sometime early Friday morning on Highway 218 at the northern edge of Cedar Falls. The welcome sign at the city limits wouldn't be so welcoming if you pulled off a covering tarp.
Police say underneath is a swastika and an unprintable racial slur. One employee at a nearby business said he didn't notice the racial slur before it got covered up. But he did think the vandal who did it was pretty bold.
Kevin Claussen said "it's kind of crazy climbing up on a street sign like that--especially right by a freeway."
Bremer County Detective Dave MacDonald said the multi-county connection wasn't apparent at first. But as investigators compared notes, they discovered the common problem.
The single incident in Cedar Falls is the only one in Black Hawk County so far. But sheriff's departments in both Butler and Bremer Counties have investigated four or five similar incidents since last fall.
MacDonald says the message certainly qualifies as racist, but might not rise to the level of a hate crime for technical reasons.
"It's not directed at any one individual or at any one particular piece of property. It's just been scattered around different areas," Detective MacDonald said.
Detective MacDonald said in Bremer County, the graffiti artist has put the swastikas and racial messages on bridge abutments, road signs and even the side of an abandoned farm house. Most of that vandalism has taken place is very isolated areas. But the vandal may be getting bolder by spray painting slurs along busy Highway 218 in Cedar Falls.
Investigators say "hate message" graffiti isn't that common in rural areas and isn't the kind of problem they'd normally see in mid-winter anyway.
Investigators say you can't compare spray painting like you can handwriting. But similarities in style and message lead them to believe they are looking for the same person in all three counties.
Police say their best bet in catching the graffiti artist is getting help from the public. All three law enforcement agencies welcome any information. Witnesses can call the Bremer County Sheriff at 319-352-5400 or the Butler County Sheriff at 319-267-2410. The Cedar Falls Police Department can be reached at 319-268-5139.
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