MARTIN COUNTY FLA. — Law enforcement records indicate that one or more vandals painted an anti-Black racial slur and a swastika, a star of David, and a line through it in a Palm City golf course tunnel.
There were also some sexually explicit etchings, according to Lt. Yesenia carde, Martin County sheriff. Palm City lies along the Atlantic coast, less than an hour from West Palm Beach.
According to a Sheriff’s incident report, investigators responded to Martin Downs Golf Club following reports of vandalism.
According to the report, an employee found the words and symbols spray-painted with paint around 7 a.m. on that day.
Investigators claimed that they were left on the ground with bright orange spraypaint and that the suspects left shoe prints, after having stepped on the paint.
The incident is being investigated as a case of criminal mischief and police may consider bringing up hate crimes.
Carde stated, “You have to prove that hate crime is the primary motive.” “So, once we have made contact with the suspect, we can determine if their motive was to cause harm and not target any particular racial group. Then we will determine it is criminal mischief.”
According to the lieutenant, if detectives discover that suspects were motivated to target a group because of their race, they may be arrested for hate crime.
Based on the nature and style of the drawings, investigators believe that children could have spray painted the tunnel at the golf course. However, they are not ruling out the possibility of adult suspects.
According to the report, school resource officers are looking for students who have orange paint on their shoes in elementary and middle schools around the area. These include Hidden Oaks Middle School and Palm City Elementary School. Citrus Grove Elementary School is also included.
Six students were arrested in May 2022 for circulating a racist photograph at Hidden Oaks Middle School. Officials said Tuesday that investigators have not connected the two cases.
Officials said that the damage to the golf course was approximately $1,000. Detectives are still investigating.
Mauricio la Plante is a TCPalm breaking news reporter focusing on Martin County. Follow him on Twitter @mslaplantenews or email him at [email protected].
