An Idaho police department determined that “White Power” graffiti found at a local high school was not an act of hate, but rather an “act of intimidation” between two “rivaling Hispanic criminal street gangs.”
“At this time, detectives no longer believe the incident is hate motivated, but rather an act of intimidation between two rival Caldwell Hispanic criminal street gangs,” the Caldwell Police Department said on Facebook.
“Detectives are relying on evidence, video and other factors discovered in the course of the investigation.”
The words “White Power” were found spray-painted on the side of Caldwell High School last Thursday, two days after the high school held a “Brown Pride” protest, the Idaho Statesman reported. Tuesday’s protest was held in support of a student who was told to remove a hoodie reading “Brown Pride” because other people reportedly found it “racist,” the outlet reported.
THE NATION’S MOST POWERFUL DEMOCRATS TAKEN THE JUSSIE SMOLLETT HATE CRIME Hoax AS GOSPEL BEFORE THE STORY COLLAPSES
Caldwell High School entrance in Idaho.
(Google Maps)
School officials reportedly compared the phrase to a “white pride” shirt, according to the student told to remove the shirt, Brenda Hernandez. Finally, she turned the hoodie inside out so the phrase couldn’t be seen while she was on school property.
Caldwell High School Principal Anita Wilson said at the time that the school has a strict dress code “compared to other school districts because Caldwell has had a gang problem before, and ‘Brown Pride’ is associated with gangs.” .
After the graffiti was found on Thursday, the police chief denounced what at the time appeared to be an act of hate, saying “we will not tolerate hate in our city and we will make sure whoever is responsible for it is held accountable for his actions”. “
CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL OFFICIAL SAYS RACIST GRAFFITI IS NOT A HATE CRIME: ‘JOKE WENT ON THE SIDE’
Police on Friday provided an update that the graffiti vandalism is believed to be a “diversion tactic” used by one of the Hispanic gangs in the area to avoid being caught by police, and “possibly done to exploit the recent protest at Caldwell High”. School.”
“It is common for gang members to vandalize property in their attempt to create fear and intimidation within the community,” the department said in its Facebook update on the case on Friday.
Suspects who allegedly scrawled the phrase “White Power” at an Idaho high school.
(Caldwell Police Department)
Police released screenshots of surveillance footage from the night the school was vandalized, showing people in black masks and hoodies standing near a wall while holding what appears to be spray paint. Police said they believe two groups of four people, or a total of eight suspects, arrived Thursday in two separate cars to graffiti the school.
Suspects who allegedly scrawled the phrase “White Power” at an Idaho high school.
(Caldwell Police Department)
Caldwell Police Chief Rex Ingram praised his department for its investigation and vowed to track down those responsible.
ANOTHER DECEPTION? MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYS RACIST GRAFFITI WAS PAINTED BY NON-WHITE STUDENT
“I am proud of the investigative effort undertaken by our detectives in this matter, who quickly determined that this incident was not a hate crime,” Ingram said. “Unfortunately, this incident has already affected the lives of many in our community.
“This appeared to be an act of violence organized by cowardly members of a local criminal street gang who attempted to cause panic, fear and intimidation,” he continued. “I promise that when we catch the suspects, the public will be able to see who they are because they won’t be able to hide behind a hood or mask in a search photograph.”
A police spokesperson further clarified to Fox News Digital on Monday that the department believes the vandalism is gang-related as it is “consistent with gang activity and we have identified tagging as gang-consistent in the area.” “. The spokesperson added that the department has additional evidence, but will not release the details as the investigation is ongoing.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Police are now trying to track down the eight suspects in the case. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 343-COPS or non-emergency dispatch at 208-454-7531.
