Riverside County authorities have reclassified the vandalism at Temecula United Methodist Church as a hate crime, NBC Los Angeles reported Tuesday, Nov. 10.

The move reverses the Riverside County Sheriff's Department's earlier position. The department had initially said the case did not appear to be a hate crime, according to NBC Los Angeles.

The investigation began Oct. 27, when deputies responded to the church after a swastika was found on a wall of the building. The vandalism came days after the church hosted the annual Temecula Valley Pride celebration on Oct. 17, according to Patch.

The church's American and inclusionary flags were also stolen, according to Pastor Drew Davis.

No one has been arrested. The investigation remained active and ongoing as of Nov. 10, NBC Los Angeles reported.

Pastor described sequence of events

In coverage published in early November by Patch, Davis described the timeline. "I came to church on the 18th, and that evening, we found our Pride flag was stolen," Davis told Patch. "Then, on Monday morning, I got a phone call that a swastika was painted on the back of the church. Later that evening, someone stole another Pride flag."

Davis told Patch at the time that the church's security cameras were not working during the incidents but that repairs had been scheduled.

Lt. Dierdre Vickers of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department told Patch in early November that deputies were informed on Oct. 27 and collected evidence but did not locate suspects.

Community pushback preceded reclassification

The Sheriff's Department's original determination that the case was not a hate crime drew criticism from community members.

Justin Daley, president of Temecula Valley Pride, told NBC Los Angeles in coverage published Nov. 6 that he could not understand how a swastika would not be considered a hate crime, calling the vandalism "disappointing and discouraging."

Davis also told Patch: "I didn't share this initially as a hate crime; however, I feel now that this should be considered exactly that."

Davis said the church would continue its mission while tightening security. The church planned 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 emailed a message of support, Davis told Patch.

Residents with information about the case can contact the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.