Norwalk : Vandals Carve Racial Slurs in Door at Japanese Center

Vandals carved racial slurs on a door and caused minor damage at the Southeast Japanese School and Community Center in Norwalk, the third time the center has been vandalized in the past four months.

Sheriff’s detectives are continuing to investigate the repeated vandalism at the center at 14615 Gridley Road, said Detective Jerry Kuramoto. No arrests have been made.

The most recent act of vandalism occurred between Feb. 15 and 18, Kuramoto said. In addition to carving racial slurs on a door, vandals slashed judo mattresses with a razor blade. The damage was estimated at $300.

Vandals first struck the community center, which offers various classes and activities, on Halloween night, slashing the tires of 13 cars in a center parking lot. On Nov. 7, vandals broke into the center and painted racial slurs on a wall and on a door. They splashed gallons of paint in two rooms, among other things, causing an estimated $20,000 in damage, Kuramoto said. It is not known if the three incidents are related, he said.