Perinton community shaken after string of racist graffiti, and an arson
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PERINTON, N.Y. – The Perinton community is shocked, as police investigate racist graffiti and arson over the holiday weekend. Town leaders say they’re shocked and upset.
News10NBC’s Stephanie Duprey spoke to the victims of that arson. They said they’re scared for their lives.
Because of safety reasons they did not want to go on camera. One family member says they feel targeted and don’t know why.
“Not going to lie it was a bit of a shock when I got the call, it is not acceptable, this is not something we ever accept from our community,” Perinton Town Supervisor, Ciaran Hanna said.
The Perinton community is shocked, as police investigate racist graffiti and arson over the holiday weekend. Town leaders say they're shocked and upset.
Days of back to back vandalism and arson in Perinton shook the community over the holiday weekend. It started Friday morning around 2 a.m. when police responded to Crossing Creek Drive for the report of two people in the Creekstone complex spray painting a car and a garage with racial slurs. The suspects ran off towards Mason Road.
“We brought in our K-9 unit but we did not capture those people that night,” Capt. Scott Alberti said, with Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.
But surveillance video in the complex did.
“We have two suspects, we have our investigators analyzing that video very closely,” Alberti added.
Then Saturday, around the same time, police got a call back to Mason Road for a house fire. Police say evidence shows the fire was set intentionally. That home is right next to Church of the Resurrection, where police found more graffiti. A swastika and racial slurs on the churches entry sign.
“The house that was caught on fire and the church sign, those are, we believe are the same suspects, based on the focused time and the proximity from the house to the sign,” Alberti said.
We have reached out to Creekstone for that surveillance video. While investigators say they believe Saturday’s arson and graffiti discovery at the church are connected, they’re still trying to figure out if there is any other connection with Friday’s vandalism. Anyone with information is asked to call the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.