Community Corner

[Updated] Vandals Deface Windsor Neighborhood with Racist, Homophobic Slurs

Update: 3:15 p.m., May 3

Windsor police are actively investigating the Poquonock vandalism discovered early Friday, according to Windsor Police Capt. Tom LePore, and may have found a link to a spray-painting incident at Windsor High School.

According to LePore, the department learned Thursday of "a sexually-explicit diagram of a penis" spray-painted on the large rock students are allowed to decorate with various messages throughout the school year. Messages like "Go Seniors" and "Class of 2012" are typical. The explicit painting found on the rock, LePore said, "is extremely similar to what was painted on some of the property up on Timothy Terrace this morning."

Accordingly, the department is looking at the possibility of one or more high-school-aged suspects, according to LePore, who added that the suspects may not be students at Windsor High.

LePore pointed to an incident last year in which a large number of Windsor houses were egged, and those responsible turned out to be students at Northwest Catholic (West Hartford).

According to LePore, officers arrived in the vandalized neighborhood around 5:30 Friday morning after being notified by residents.

Vandalism was discovered on Timothy Terrace, Michael Lane and one property on West Street.

Although the majority of homes in the neighborhood were not victimized — nearly a dozen or so appeared affected Friday — LePore said he doesn't think particular homes or families were targeted.

The neighborhood as a whole, however, was targeted, LePore said, adding that the department has no information as to why.

According to LePore, no physical evidence was left behind that will aid officers in their investigation and no witnesses have come forward to report having seen or heard anything suspicious overnight.

As the investigation continues, LePore said, the department is hoping someone will provide information that will lead to the identification of one or multiple suspects.

Original Story

Residents in a Poquonock neighborhood woke up to an ugly scene Friday, as vandalism depicting racist, homophobic, and sexually explicit slurs and pictures was everywhere.

Victims saw their homes, mailboxes and vehicles covered in spray paint.

Randi Sussman, a Newington resident who was in town visiting her parents on Timothy Terrace Thursday night, saw her 2012 Subaru Impreza spray painted with a large picture of a penis, among other things.

"I've never experienced this in Windsor before; I wouldn't expect to. I've lived on this street since I was four," Sussman said.

"I'm disgusted," said Town Councilman Mike McDonald, whose home was one of the vandalized properties on Poquonock's Timothy Terrace and Michael Lane.

Onyeka Obiocha, who lives across the street from Sussman's parents, echoed her shock.

"My neighborhood has always been peaceful. I've lived here over a decade and I went through the Windsor Public School system," Obiocha said.

"I've always felt Windsor was open, diverse, accepting — and I still do, don't get me wrong ... I think this was a couple of kids misbehaving, vandalizing property. Either way, I don't think it should be acceptable in Windsor, and it's really not."

Calls to the Windsor Police Department were not immediately returned Friday.

Town staff arrived in the neighborhood Friday morning to begin removing the vandals' work.

This story is developing. Stay with Windsor Patch for further updates.


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