Saying that, “the Susanville Police Department takes hate crimes very seriously,” Police Chief Ryan Cochran announced Friday that his department is investigating the spray painting of incendiary messages on the exterior of Lassen Family Services’ office on Riverside Drive early Friday morning.
“We will vigorously investigate and bring any individuals or groups responsible for hate crimes to justice.”
Officers were called to the office at 1306 Riverside Drive at around 6:00a.m. Friday, arriving to find fresh spray paint on two of the main walls of the building depicting hateful statements.
Chief Cochran explained that the anticipated cost to paint over the graffiti may constitute a felony vandalism charge.
The statement spray painted on the building is being investigated by the SPD as a potential violation of 422.6 of the Penal Code which says that no person, whether or not acting under color of law, shall knowingly deface, damage, or destroy the real or personal property of any other person for the purpose of intimidating or interfering with the free exercise or enjoyment of any right or privilege secured to the other person by the Constitution or laws of this state or by the Constitution or laws of the United States, in whole or in part because of one or more of the actual or perceived characteristics of the victim listed in subdivision (a) of Section 422.55.
“Crimes motivated by bias against race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability will not be tolerated in our community.”
The public is encouraged to contact the Susanville Police Department at 1.530.257.5605 with any information which could assist with the ongoing investigation.
