Today, September 23, at 8:21 a.m., Eugene Police were called to a report that a Eugene woman, age 31 and who is Black, had found graffiti containing racial slurs painted on her vehicle and her tires flattened. The vehicle had been parked in front of her home in southeast Eugene. EPD officers investigated and canvassed the neighborhood and were unable to locate suspect information. The investigation will be turned over to the EPD Special Investigation Unit. Human Rights and Neighborhood Involvement has been notified.
“The is unconscionable,” said Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner. “We will continue to apply investigative resources to this so we can hold the suspect or suspects accountable for this crime, which would instill fear. We are sorry this happened to the victim. In these cases, we ensure that the City’s Human Rights and Neighborhood Involvement is informed so they can follow up with services to help the victim and neighborhood. We also ensure mayor and council are aware of it.”
The graffiti occurred sometime between September 22 at 6:45 p.m. and this morning, when the victim discovered it.
If anyone has information in this case they are asked to call 541.682.5111. Case 20-15864
In alignment with the City Council goal of creating a Safe Community, the City and its police department are committed to working with community partners to reach the vision of promoting a community where every person, regardless of their identity, is safe, valued, and welcome. EPD takes an active role to protect all community members against intimidation and harassment based upon bias and prejudice; and works in tandem with the City’s Office of Human Rights and Neighborhood Involvement (HRNI), which collects statistical information on both criminal and non-criminal hate and bias activity and provides victim support and community response to hate and bias activity in Eugene. EPD and HRNI work collaboratively in a responsive system. An annual Hate and Bias report is produced to document statistical information on both criminal and non-criminal hate and bias activity. Read more about the report and how to report hate or bias incidents.