Police investigate three graffiti incidents as hate crime

Police in Palo Alto are investigating vandalism in a park restroom found Wednesday as a hate crime.

On Wednesday at 6:35 a.m., officers with the Palo Alto Police Department responded to the restroom at El Camino Park at 155 El Camino Real on a report of a vandalism incident.

Police said a public works employee had discovered the graffiti the night before inside the men’s restroom.

Officers located derogatory language directed at white people had been written in black marker on several areas in the bathroom.

Crews were able to remove the graffiti. Police said they believe the vandalism occurred at some point on Tuesday.

Police said this the third graffiti vandalism hate crime reported at the bathroom since May.

Investigators have not identified a suspect in the cases but believe the vandalism incidents were committed by the same suspect.

Anyone with information about the vandalism incidents is asked to call the Palo Alto Police Department at (650) 329-2413.