St. Paul police ask for public's help after slurs, threat painted on dock at Como Lake

Last update: July 13, 2009 - 9:42 PM

St. Paul police sent out a neighborhood alert and have asked for the public's help after racist and threatening graffiti were painted on a fishing dock on the south side of Como Lake.

DISCOVERED SUNDAY: The gold spray-painted lettering was reported at about 6 a.m. Sunday, leading police to believe it happened sometime the night before, spokesman Sgt. Paul Schnell said. It included a threat along the lines of "Kill Obama" and three epithets directed at blacks, Schnell said.

A crew from the city's Parks and Recreation Department got rid of the graffiti, he said.

Although police have not seen a pattern of hate-based graffiti, "we don't know what the person's intention was in doing this, and that's perhaps the most troubling aspect of it."

Schnell said police are aggressive about investigating graffiti whenever it's found and "where it's hate-based, we take that very seriously," he said.

NO SUSPECTS: Police have no suspects, witnesses or evidence beyond what was found, Schnell said.

"It's going to take somebody who saw something for us to solve this," he said.

HAVE INFORMATION? Potential witnesses can call 651-291-1111 and speak with an officer from the Western District.

PAT PHEIFER

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