Elsmere Police investigating vandalism at historic Black cemetery
Elsmere Police investigating vandalism at historic Black cemetery By FOX19 Digital Staff | December 17, 2020 at 9:45 AM EST - Updated December 17 at 6:28 PM
ELSMERE, Ky. (FOX19) - The Elsmere Police Department is investigating vandalism at the Mary E. Smith Memorial Cemetery.
Police said vandals spray-painted anarchist symbols on signage at the entrance of the historic Black cemetery and on its tombstones.
Elsmere Police Chief Joe Maier said vandals toppled approximately 30 grave headstones from their bases in early December and defaced some of the headstones with black spray paint.
Detective Eric Higgins says based on the type of vandalism used, it leads him to think it was a younger person behind it.
Dec 17, 2020
Elsmere Police are trying to find the vandals who damaged several graves at the Mary E. Smith Memorial Cemetery.
Tombstones were toppled and others were spray-painted with anarchist symbols. Mayor Marty Lenof says “Regardless of whether this crime was perpetrated by a juvenile, anarchist, or racist, it has no place in the City of Elsmere. Our city has a long history as one of the most diverse communities in Northern Kentucky and this criminal act is not just an affront to people of color or those who have loved ones buried in this cemetery but to all people who live in our city.”
Historic Black cemetery vandalized in Elsmere, 30 headstones toppled Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer
The Mary E. Smith Memorial Cemetery was vandalized this month with approximately 30 headstones toppled and others defaced with spray paint, police said.
Elsmere Police Chief Joe Maier said the vandalism took place sometime in early December, possibly on Dec. 3, but no witnesses have been identified and there was no video surveillance.
Officials believe juveniles may have been behind the vandalism due to the anarchist symbols found spray-painted at the scene, the letter A with a circle around it.
Elsmere City Manager Matt Dowling said it would be unusual for anarchists to target a Black cemetery.
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30 gravestones toppled, multiple vandalized at historic Black cemetery in Northern Kentucky Share Updated: 12:45 PM EST Dec 17, 2020 WLWT Digital Staff Share Updated: 12:45 PM EST Dec 17, 2020 WLWT Digital Staff WLWT Digital Staff The Elsmere Police Department is investigating after 30 grave headstones were toppled and multiple were vandalized at a historic Black cemetery.Police said the vandals toppled around 30 headstones at the Mary E. Smith Memorial Cemetery and defaced some of them with spray paint. The vandals sprayed-painted a capital A surrounded by a circle uniformly recognized as an anarchist symbol on the cemetery’s entrance sign and on some tombstones along with other graffiti, Elsmere Police Chief Joe Maier said.“The use of anarchist symbols in connection with vandalism in a historic Black cemetery doesn’t really make sense,” said Elsmere City Administrator Matt Dowling. “Most anarchists usual