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Riverside Police Investigate Hate Crime

The Riverside Police Department is investigating a potential hate crime after swastikas and Nazi symbols were spray painted in purple paint on all 25 windows of a home under construction. The home was targeted possibly due to the ethnic background of the potential buyers who are of Indian descent. No suspects have been identified and the police have no solid leads. They are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Jim Lazansky at the provided number.

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11 views1 page

Riverside Police Investigate Hate Crime

The Riverside Police Department is investigating a potential hate crime after swastikas and Nazi symbols were spray painted in purple paint on all 25 windows of a home under construction. The home was targeted possibly due to the ethnic background of the potential buyers who are of Indian descent. No suspects have been identified and the police have no solid leads. They are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Jim Lazansky at the provided number.

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NEWS RELEASE

RIVERSIDE POLICE DEPARTMENT


31 Riverside Road, Riverside, Illinois 60546

28 December 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Chief Tom Weitzel

708 447 2127 tweitzel@[Link]

Riverside Police Investigating Potential Hate Crime Where Swastikas Were Painted on Home
The Riverside Police asking for publics help on identifying potential suspect(s)
On Christmas Day, December 25, 2015 at 8:50 a.m., Riverside Police were notified of a damage report on a home on
the 300 block of Lionel Road in Riverside. This address is one block north of the 7200 block of West Ogden Avenue
(Ogden and Lionel Road) in Riverside.
When police arrived, they found that this was a new house under construction in which it was partially still open as there
was still framing being done. However, the windows were in place. Officers, while walking the property, observed that
there were spray-painted swastikas and Nazi symbols in purple spray paint on every single window in the home which
totaled 25 damaged windows.
It was also observed that whoever committed this crime was probably very agile as the stairs were not in and you would
have to climb the ladders from floor to floor to damage the upper-cased windows. Officers checked the property for any
physical evidence and were not able to recover anything. No physical evidence was left at the scene including any paint
remnants or markings of the wood revealing shoe impressions.
Riverside detectives walked the entire block and interviewed neighbors. No one saw the damage take place or had any
current suspects description they could provide to assist police in their investigation. It was learned from one witness
that the incident probably occurred after Christmas Eve night on the 24th as he said he looked at the home at 11:00 p.m.
from his residence and the swastikas were not there at that time.
Riverside Police contacted the contractor who immediately contacted Service Master. They came out on Christmas Day
and were able to remove the swastikas from the windows after police photographed them as evidence.
The potential new homeowners are of Indian descent and were in the process of purchasing the home from the builder.
Due to the ethnic background of the potential buyers, there is a possibility that the house was targeted.
Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel stated, As this is a disgusting incident and potentially a hate crime, I have
assigned detectives to work on this specific case and put any resources they need towards the possible apprehension of
the suspect(s). At this time, police are working on some theories but have no solid leads. I am asking any resident of
Riverside or anyone else who may know who committed this appalling crime to contact the Riverside Police Department
immediately. One key piece of evidence I believe that stands out is that the spray paint used was purple.
Anyone who may have information on this crime can contact Detective Jim Lazansky at 708-447-2127 or
jlazansky@[Link]

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