Graffiti appears in Bryan Park

A new wave of graffiti, much of it anti-Semitic and racist, covered buildings and other structures throughout Bryan Park yesterday, and police say they are looking for suspects.

Police spokesman James Mercante said park users and workers discovered dozens of spray-painted symbols and phrases early yesterday. The city's graffiti-removal team worked much of the day removing and painting over the damage.

Mercante stressed that graffiti damage that costs in excess of $1,000 to remove can result in criminal charges punishable by up to five years in prison.

Mercante said that similar graffiti attacks have occurred in recent weeks in the nearby Bellevue area of the city off Hermitage Road and in Oregon Hill near Hollywood Cemetery.

In Newport News, city police are investigating graffiti left Thursday on the United Jewish Community Center. Surveillance videos showed four people dressed in white or light clothing entering the property shortly before 5 a.m. -- Bill McKelway