WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsVandals graffiti Altoona religious statue, buildings and cars

Vandals graffiti Altoona religious statue, buildings and cars

Altoona (WQOW) - A string of overnight graffiti leaves Altoona residents shocked and offended. In one case, a religious statue was defaced and, next to it, was some very offensive language.

They woke up to graffiti on homes, buildings and cars. Some of those people were children heading to summer bible school at church.

Tanya Doney dropped off her daughter at vacation bible school in Altoona and saw this. This normally white statue of St. Mary was spray painted gray with offensive language written on the building behind it.

"I don't like that word one bit--in any form ever used," Tanya says. "It's very hurtful to see they would do that to a religious figure, let alone anybody else in the world."

Because the language was so offensive, we have chosen not to air it in our newscasts. But there were many people, including Tanya's daughter, who had no choice.

"I have spoken with my daughter, just to tell her that there are some rude or naughty people out in the world that don't think twice about what they're doing," Tanya says.

Daniel Sedlacek helped organize this week's bible school at St. Mary's. Today, the last day, was supposed to be fun with a pool party.  The graffiti has overshadowed the fun.

"You kind of expect people to be a little more respectful of religious places, religious buildings and religious objects," he says.

Graffiti was spotted at four sites in the city including here, at the back side of the public library. Workers were quick to clean it up Friday morning.

"City hall and library, some private vehicles," says Chief Todd Chaney, Altoona Public Safety Director. "They spray painted some bikes here at the school. We're still trying to locate additional acts of vandalism."

Now the cleanup has begun. The language is being removed and St. Mary repainted. And as police search for who did this, thoughts go to what should happen.

"I believe in justice and I believe in following the law," Daniel says.

And to why children had to see this.

"I always wonder why kids have to learn what they do when they learn them," says Erika Johnson, principal at St. Mary's Elementary School. "I guess that's all a part of God's plan. ... Maybe that's the lesson in this: to come together as a strong school community."

Altoona police say they're still following leads in this case and have made no arrests. They're also working on calculating the value of the damage.

They say property owners are the ones who'll have to do the cleanup and pay for it.