Homeowner finds racist graffiti on fence

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Tiann Doll was couldn't believe what she saw on her fence last Saturday.

"I was shocked. I've lived here 12 years and never had anything like this happen," Doll said.

Someone used black spray paint to write "Warning! N***** lives here" on her fence.

"It's not funny. They may think it's harmless and funny amongst them, but it's not funny. They changed the world-view of a nine year old," Doll said.

Doll said she understands things like this happen, but was surprised it happened in Fort Wayne and upset she had to explain what the word meant to her son.

"He sees the world as a good place. Now he may see the world as more scary," Doll said. "It can't be taken out of my son's memory."

Doll thinks a group of teenage boys may be to blame. Last Friday they were in the field behind her fence when a neighbor saw them break the fence. He called police. When police arrived two of the boys ran off.

"One was very disrespectful to the police. He was texting while police were talking, sarcastic and smarting off," Doll said.

According to the police report the boy lied to police about who other boys in the group were. The police officer also said in the report that the 14-year-old boy had hand-drawn Nazi symbols on his shirt.

"I didn't see who did [the graffiti] but when someone has swastikas on their body, it's not a far reach to see who did it," Doll said.

Friday, the Fort Wayne-Allen County NAACP President Bill McGill came to see the racial slur.

"These kinds of instances are far too common in 2009," McGill said.

But he hopes this can be used to open conversation about racisim.

"That's what the NAACP is all about, encourage a lot more conversation and less confrontation," McGill said. "This can be a teachable moment for this child, this family, and the larger community."

Fort Wayne police officer Michael Joyner said fighting graffiti is difficult.

"It's a crime of opportunity and usually done in less than favorable lighting conditions with on one around," Joyner said.

Joyner added when the graffiti is a racially charged message, it's even more upsetting.

"It's a violation of civil rights and probably the most heinous type of graffiti crime that one can perpetrate. How do you fight it? When you catch the individual responsible, you throw the book at them. This individual or individuals will be facing the letter of the law to the fullest," Joyner said.

Doll is in the process of going to small claims court to get her fence fixed. She is also filing a restraining order against the boys.