The search is on in San Diego for a suspect linked to a spree of hate crimes across multiple neighborhoods. San Diego Police Department's Criminal Intelligence Unit, abetted by San Diego County Crime Stoppers, is calling on the public to help find the individual responsible for several acts of vandalism targeting religious sites. These crimes began last December and have haunted communities through to this September.
The targeted neighborhoods include Bankers Hill, Golden Hill, Hillcrest, and North Park. According to an official release from the City of San Diego, the suspect defaced churches and religious shrines with graffiti bearing slurs against specific religions. Security footage from affected sites has captured images of the vandal, a man around 25 to 30 years of age, sporting a dark hoodie with the phrase “BLTS SWATS” on occasion, and carrying out his misdeeds predominantly under the concealment of early mornings.
Further details of his appearance describe him as a white male adult, heavyset, usually veiled in dark clothing with a hood pulled over his head and a dark face covering that obscures his features. His consistent choice of black shoes with a white sole may also be useful for identification. Recorded by surveillance repeatedly, the suspect's acts are brazen, leaving his mark and then disappearing on foot each time.
To help catch the perpetrator of these hate crimes, the San Diego GLBTQ+ Historic Task Force and the Hate Crime Fund are offering a $2,000 reward. They've thrown their weight behind this effort, offering cash for information that leads to an arrest. Photos and video footage of the suspect are available for public review, which is crucial in garnering tips from those who might recognize him.
Anyone with information that could lead to the identification or location of the suspect is urged to contact the SDPD’s Criminal Intelligence Unit at (619) 531-2331 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at (888) 580-8477. Tips can also be conveyed via their website or mobile app.
