Police investigating South Seattle vandalism, hate graffiti

SEATTLE, Wash. — Police arrested a suspect Saturday after investigating a burglary and acts of vandalism that occurred earlier this week.

The incidents occurred at the Africatown Center for Education and Innovation in South Seattle.

The vandalism included racial slurs and hate graffiti, Seattle police say. The center reports that equipment was taken during the burglary.

The first incident occurred on March 20 and involved an East African man who volunteers at the center. Police say the man wrote an insufficient funds check to the center and stole some computers and electronics.

Employees suspected that the man had stolen items but couldn’t prove it, authorities report.

The man arrived at the center while officers were on the scene investigating. The center agreed to let the man’s father pay for the bad check and refund the center for any stolen items.

Officers did not make an arrest due to lack of probable cause, authorities report.

The second incident occurred later in the week and involved graffiti targeted at African Americans.

The East African man was located, interviewed and arrested for burglary.

The racist graffiti was documented and photographed, police say.

The man is still a suspect in the bias crime. Police say this is still an active investigation.

Cox Media Group