Police said Thursday they?ve identified three new hate crimes matching one reported Monday night.
All involve racist symbols and words chemicallyburned into lawns in Ellicott City.
Howard County police said they believe all four Stonehouse Drive lawns were damaged at the same time, likely last week. The homeowners, all of whom are minorities, said they noticed damage prior to the discovery of the first incident Monday, but could not discern the meaning until Thursday. The markings included swastikas, the words “White Power” and the letters “WP.”
Police, who are offering a $500 reward for helpful information, said they don?t know if an individual or group committed the crimes.
“We?re still trying to determine that at this time,” said Howard County police Officer Jennifer Reidy. In the first incident, police described the swastika as 1 square foot in size and the words “White Power” as 1-by-4 feet. The markings in the most recent incidents are also small, they said. Residents of the neighborhood next to Old Frederick Road said Thursday that they noticed the markings spreading across the community as the weed killer processed over time. Marianne Olson said the markings are also showing up on common areas.
“Everybody is very concerned about it,” she said. “I don?t know how much was mischief or someone being ugly. It certainly is disturbing that somebody would do something like that.”
Police ask that anyone with information call 410-313-3200.
