Crime & Safety

Racial Epithet Scratched on Vehicle Investigated as Possible Hate Crime

A vehicle was found vandalized Sunday morning in Moreno Valley, deputies said the damage exceeded $5,000, and a derogatory racial comment scratched on the vehicle was being investigated as a possible hate crime, a sheriff's sergeant said.

The vandalism was reported just after 7 a.m. Oct. 13 in the 13000 block of Pocono Court, east of Lasselle Street and south of the 60 Freeway, according to Sgt. Curt Bright of the sheriff's Moreno Valley station.

"Officers contacted the owner of the vehicle and determined the damages exceeded five thousand dollars and included a derogatory racial comment scratched into the paint of the vehicle," Bright said.

"Based on the correlation between the victim’s ethnicity and the comment left on the car, the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime," Bright said.

Bright urged anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators at (951) 247-8700.


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