Vandals entered Hallett Elementary School through an unsecured door overnight Monday and spray painted racial slurs and images of male genitalia inside the building.
Deputies were called to the school at 524 S. Hallett Road after construction employees discovered the damage about 6 a.m. Tuesday. Most of the paint was applied to protective plastic covering windows inside the school, but paint on classroom walls caused an estimated $500 in damage.
A construction foreman told deputies that the last worker left the school about 5 p.m. Monday, and that an electrician had left the can of orange spray paint. The workers estimated the damage was caused before nightfall Monday because the power is turned off inside the building.
The slurs targeted members of the black race. “White power” was painted on one door. Workers located the spent paint can and deputies seized it for fingerprint examination.
There was an incident of racial harassment reported between two students toward the end of the school year, and deputies contacted the suspect and victim in that case. Both claimed no knowledge of Monday night’s vandalism.
Anyone with information regarding this burglary is encouraged to call Crime Check at 456-2233.