One arrested, Norman Police make arrest in racist graffiti cases

NORMAN (KOKH) — April 4 5:35 pm- Norman police have made an arrest in connection to the recent vandalism incidents in both Norman and Oklahoma City.

45-year-old Allison Johnson has been arrested and will be booked into the Cleveland County Detention Center on a complaint of Terroristic Threats.

The investigation is ongoing according to the Norman Police Department.

April 3 5:00 pm- The Norman Police Department is investigating after three buildings were vandalized overnight.

The Cleveland County Democratic Party, McKinley Elementary School and the Firehouse Art Center were found covered in spray paint Wednesday morning, nearly one week after two buildings in Oklahoma City were vandalized.

"It is definitely the same. The way they misspelled the words. The same hateful messages. The same hateful symbols. It's definitely the same person," said Imad Enchassi with the Greater Islamic Society in Oklahoma City.

Enchassi said he believes all the incidents are connected. He was at the scene last week, outside the Oklahoma Democratic Headquarters in Oklahoma City.

"I came simply to stand with everybody who came here to show them they have our support and our love," said Enchassi.

Norman police said it's working with Oklahoma City police on all the cases.

"We know that there are some similarities to what occurred in Oklahoma City. Our investigators are actively working with Oklahoma City police to ensure we are sharing information and working together on this investigation," said Norman police public information officer Sarah Jensen.

The Firehouse Art Center released a statement Wednesday about the incident that happened on its property.

"Today the outside of the Firehouse Art Center and one of our signature sculptures was defaced with words and symbols of hate. Others in central Oklahoma have recently experienced the same horrible behavior. It is vandalism pure and simple, but does more to unite our community than divide it," said Douglas Elder, Norman Firehouse Center executive director.

Officials at the art center said its "Olivia" statue was vandalized. They said it was created by a prominent Norman sculpture, Richard McKown.

The statue has been around for at least a decade.

"We are working with law enforcement to find the person or persons who are in so much pain that they have expressed it in this violent manner. They need to be stopped and to get help," said Elder.

The Oklahoma Democratic Party released the following statement on the racist vandalism targeting the Cleveland County Democratic Party office, and two other Norman locations: "Bigotry and hate have no place in our communities. The Oklahoma Democratic Party is disgusted by these cowardly attacks of hatred. We must send a message that racism will not be tolerated in our communities and take a stand against those fanning the flames of nationalism and bigotry."

The release went onto say, "Hatred is not a partisan issue and runs counter to our American values. Our diversity is what makes our country and state strong. Communities and leaders must work together, not lose hope, and speak up for those targeted by hate and bigotry."

Congresswomen Kendra Horn also responded to the incidents calling the images "deeply damaging."

"This behavior empowers those who hold hate-filled beliefs," said Horn. "Hate lays the groundwork for violence, and these attacks fan the flame. Attempts to break our communities won’t work. We won’t sit by and allow hate to take the driver’s seat. As we always have, Oklahomans will come together to show that love is stronger than hate. We will stand up against demonstrations of division. We will treat the affected with love and empathy. And we will continue to show that embracing our differences makes us stronger as a community, not weaker."

The Oklahoma Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK) condemned the attacks Wednesday.

CAIR officials said they believe the cases are connected.

“The same person or persons who last week displayed their hate so boldly have now made it clear that they aren’t going to stop. From Oklahoma City to Norman, we are seeing clearly that intolerance is alive and well in our community,” said CAIR-OK Civil Rights Director Veronica Laizure.

Norman Public Schools released a statement saying the district was disgusted and heartbroken after learning about the racist and hateful graffiti at McKinley Elementary School.

"We condemn these messages of hate, and the cowardly person or persons responsible for them, in the strongest possible terms. They are in direct opposition to our stated core values of integrity, inclusiveness, optimism and collaboration," said superintendent Dr. Nick Migliorino. "Norman Public Schools, as a reflection of our community, stands as a place where students, families and staff of all backgrounds are welcomed and celebrated. The perpetrator of this deplorable vandalism does not represent the spirit of our schools or the tens of thousands of residents who stand united against hate and bigotry."

The graffiti was scrubbed off at each location by noon Wednesday.

"Every time something like this happens, my thought is how do we move past it? How do we heal? Even just the physical activity of doing this is a healing process for me," said Joshua Dolfe, a volunteer.

Dolfe said he woke up Wednesday morning and heard about the graffiti and jumped into action.

"I threw my briefcase in the car, came down and said, "How can I help?," said Dolfe.

Dolfe works in the Norman community.

"I am making sure this community knows there are people that do not hate, do not resent and do not feel attacked by beliefs that differ from mine. I want them to know that they have a community here in Norman that cares about them," said Dolfe.

Police are asking anyone in the public that has information on any of the incidents to come forward.

"The public is so crucial in these incidents. They are our eyes and ears in the community, and so, they are the exact ones to know if they've seen something or potentially have the missing information to help us solve this case quickly," said Jensen.

If you have information that you would like to submit anonymously, you can do so through normancrimstoppers.org. You can also call the crime stoppers number anonymously at (405)-355-STOP.