Palm Desert, CA – One person was arrested in connection to a hate crime and vandalism event in Palm Desert today.
A home and vehicle in the 43-000 block of Warner Trail and another car in the 77-000 block of California were spray painted with swastikas and other symbols, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
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Chaz Shapiro, 20, of Palm Desert was arrested after one of the victims told officers he had argued with Shapiro, an acquaintance, the night before, the sheriff’s department said.
Shapiro was booked at the Indio Jail. [The Desert Sun]
Chaz Shapiro is my HERO!!! It was a funny prank that got taken out of hand by this little boy JP and his ugly girlfriend Tyler. Donations for the Chaz Shapiro fund are being collected.
this is all so funny to me if you knew the kid, you would not think of it as a hate crime, but a prank.
“Shapiro” spray painted swastikas?
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. The Palm Springs police chief will join an Anti-Defamation League representative Tuesday for the first of two days of community meetings on battling hate crimes.
Hate crimes made headlines this week as a Desert Hot Springs woman, who police said identified herself as a white supremacist, was charged with attempted murder, a hate crime and other violations in connection with a stabbing attack on two black people at the end of the Villagefest street fair in downtown Palm Springs Thursday night.
However, police Sgt. Mitch Spike said the community meetings had been scheduled prior to the incident and were not being held in response to it.
Chief Gary Jeandron said his department is very aggressive in enforcing anti-hate crime laws.
“Sometimes there is confusion about hate crimes in terms of what they are and how to report them, but we take it seriously here in Palm Springs,” Chief Gary Jeandron said.
He said his department’s aggressive enforcement policies help Palm Springs to have a low rate of hate-crime incidents, with 12 being reported last year.
Jeandron said he expects all types of hate crimes to be discussed at the community meetings, including concerns about race, religion and sexual preferance.
Jeandron will join Ariella Loewenstein of the Anti-Defamation League at the Palm Springs gatherings.
Meetings are scheduled for:
— Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at Toucans Tiki Lounge, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Drive.
— Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity
Center, 480 Tramview Road.
— Wednesday at 7 a.m., Chamber of Commerce breakfast, Spa Hotel, 140 N.
Indian Ave.
“All members of the community are invited to attend,” according to police officials.