Police Investigating Graffiti in School Restrooms as Hate Crime

Published on May 13, 2022

Palo Alto, CA – Police are investigating a vandalism case that occurred at a middle school as a hate crime, after an unknown suspect wrote “KKK” in two restrooms.

On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, at about 4:06 p.m., our 24-hour dispatch center received a graffiti vandalism report from administrative staff at Fletcher Middle School at 655 Arastradero Road.  School personnel had already removed the graffiti prior to police arrival.

The investigation revealed that the vandalism had appeared on two consecutive days (May 10 and May 11) in two separate boys’ restrooms on the school campus, and in both cases, the suspect had written “KKK” using a pen or marker.  On May 10, it had been written on a bathroom stall; on May 11, it had been written on a toilet paper dispenser and walls.  Police believe it likely that the same suspect committed both crimes.  Officers are actively investigating the case and working collaboratively with the school administration.

In January 2022, police investigated a graffiti vandalism case at an elementary school in Palo Alto.  That case is still open, with no arrests made or suspects identified.  Police currently have no evidence to connect the incidents at the two schools.  For details on the January case, read the news release we distributed about it on January 25. 

Officers will thoroughly investigate any reported hate crimes in Palo Alto.  You are welcome to read a blog post from the City entitled “Steps the Community Can Take to Help Stop Hate Crimes.”  The City of Palo Alto strongly denounces hate crimes of all kinds, and encourages members of our community to promptly report these incidents by calling our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413, or 9-1-1 if it is an emergency.  To view details on other hate crimes reported in Palo Alto, visit /PAPDnews and search by keyword “hate.”

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call our 24-hour dispatch center at (650) 329-2413.  Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to (650) 383-8984.