Sheriff says Temecula church swastika case is not hate crime

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department says a swastika spray-painted on Temecula United Methodist Church is not a hate crime, drawing pushback from the church's pastor and a local Pride leader.

The vandalism followed the Temecula Valley Pride Celebration, held Oct. 17 in the church parking lot, according to Patch. The church is located at 42690 Margarita Road, according to the Press Enterprise.

The next evening, both an all-inclusive Pride flag and the American flag were stolen from the church's flagpole. The lock on the pole had been pried open, Pastor Drew Davis said, according to the Press Enterprise. Davis replaced the stolen Pride flags, but each replacement was also stolen.

Davis reported a spray-painted swastika on the back of the church to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The Press Enterprise reported he learned of the swastika on Oct. 26. Deputies responded on Oct. 27 and collected evidence, NBC Southern California reported. The department classified the case as not a hate crime.

Davis said the swastika is a hate symbol that targets every group, according to NBC Southern California.

Lt. Dierdre Vickers of the sheriff's department confirmed deputies collected evidence but did not locate suspects, according to Patch. No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing, the department said.

Justin Daley, president of Temecula Valley Pride, criticized the classification in an interview with NBC Southern California.

"I don't know how a swastika cannot be perceived not as a hate crime. It tells the story itself," Daley said.

"Acts like this emphasize the fact that we need pride events because hate is still happening until it's eliminated, we still have work to do," Daley said.

In coverage published Nov. 3, Davis told Patch, "I didn't share this initially as a hate crime; however, I feel now that this should be considered exactly that."

The church has since painted over the swastika and repaired the flagpole lock with help from a church member, according to the Press Enterprise. The church is flying a transgender flag for November in honor of transgender awareness month.

Davis said the church plans to hold a Transgender Day of Remembrance service on Thursday, Nov. 19, according to Patch. Temecula City Councilmember Zak Schwank visited the church, and Mayor Jessica Alexander sent an email of support, Davis said, according to Patch.

Anyone with information about the vandalism can contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.