Danville Police are investigating what is being called a case of Felony Hate Crime. Police Chief Chris Yates says the Danville Police Department began receiving multiple calls from citizens early Friday who had found ‘Hate Propaganda’. It was in the form of a single page flyer inserted into zip-lock baggies containing small rocks.
Chief Yates says the majority of the calls came from citizens who live north of West Voorhees Street and west of Vermilion Street, however there were also several calls as far south as Seminary Street.
‘’The overwhelming response by the citizens of Danville as well as local businesses expressing their disgust of the flyers illustrates the unity of our citizens,’’ said Chief Yates in a statement to the media. ‘’Furthermore, the Danville Police Department and the citizens it serves will not tolerate the incitement of violence or hate in any form as well as attempts to create divisiveness,’’ Yates added in the statement.
Patrol officers and investigators from the Danville Police Criminal Investigation Division have been collecting evidence and canvassing neighborhoods for additional information. This incident is being investigated as a felony hate crime under the Illinois Compiled Statutes.
Danville Police are asking citizens and businesses in the affected area(s) to review all of their privately owned security systems and look for any suspicious activity that may have been captured during the early morning hours on Friday (June 12, 2020) between midnight and 7:00 a.m.
Anyone with information that might help in this investigation is asked to call Danville Police at (217) 431-2250 or call Vermilion County Crime Stoppers at (217) 446-TIPS.
