Port Police Preparing to Request Charges in 'Hate Crime'

Port police suspect a 48-year-old Port Washington man is responsible for graffiti markings along the Ozaukee Interurban Trail, an act which Police Chief Richard Thomas calls a "hate crime."

Police have been investigating the crime since the vandalism was reported on Saturday — — and believe the suspect is also responsible for an incident that occurred in 2010, as well as possibly has connections to similar vandalism in 2009.

The department is working to calculate the total damage costs before requesting formal charges from the Ozaukee County District Attorney. If the D.A. agrees to file a criminal complaint, the suspect will be arrested, Thomas said.

Port officer Jerry Nye spent Tuesday night delving into reports of similar crimes dating back to 1998, and from that work zeroed in on this suspect, Thomas said. While Thomas said the suspect does have connections to the Food Pantry, he is unable to provide more details at this time until charges have been filed.

The graffiti started on the trail just beyond where it meets up with East Jackson Street, and continued to the area of , where the 27th and final message read, "Hitler's food pantry," according to the police report. A combination of green and blue paints were used, as well as a set of 6-inch stencils.

in June 2010 the words, "Hitler's Pantry Food" were painted — again with blue spray paint — on the sidewalk area of St. Peter's Church; the church houses Port's Food Pantry. In July 2009, the bike trail was dotted with a total of 26 symbols or phrases, again including swastika symbols over the word "city" (as seen in photos included with this story) and other phrases such as, "sucks**t," "gay fish," "redrum" and "f**k port."

The department will seek criminal damage to property charges for the crime, but will also request that the District Attorney apply a hate crime aspect to the charge — under statute 939.645 — which can enhance the penalty.