CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The FBI will investigate whether racial slurs painted on two homes and a church in the last few weeks may constitute a hate crime, officials said this morning.
Cleveland Police Chief Wes Snyder and Mayor Tom Rowland, accompanied by other city officials, ministers and community leaders, held a news conference to condemn the vandalism and graffiti that has defaced Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and two homes on Blair Road.
Mr. Rowland said he considers the vicious words painted on the buildings as a hate crime. Vice Mayor Avery Johnson said he’s never seen this kind of public display of racial disharmony in Cleveland.
Chief Snyder did not offer any information about evidence or suspects and he warned the community not “to speculate beyond the facts.” He said there is a $1,000 reward for anyone who provides information that helps bring about a conviction in the case.
Chris Spors, president of the Ocoee Region Builders Association, said the builders have volunteered to clean the paint off the bricks at one victim’s home. He said Key James Brick Co. has offered to donate the cleaning solution.
For complete coverage, see tomorrow’s Chattanooga Times Free Press.
Randall Higgins covers news in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Times Free Press. He started work with the Chattanooga Times in 1977 and joined the staff of the Chattanooga Times Free Press when the Free Press and Times merged in 1999. Randall has covered Southeast Tennessee, Northwest Georgia and Alabama. He now covers Cleveland and Bradley County and the neighboring region. Randall is a Cleveland native. He has bachelor’s degree from Tennessee Technological University. His awards ...
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