Chatham-Kent police are asking for the public's help to solve what appears to be a hate-motivated incident in Dresden.
Police said officers were called to investigate a mischief complaint at Stranak Park on Brown Street on Sunday and learned that sometime between 3:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday, someone had used a red permanent marker to write several derogatory messages directed towards the 2SLGBTQ+ community on several picnic tables there.
Investigators are treating the mischief as a "hate-motivated" incident because of the nature of the messages, the specifics of which were not disclosed by police.
Police are asking anyone in the area who has surveillance cameras to check their footage for possible evidence that could help them with the investigation.
Officers said the messages have since been removed, but they are urging anyone who may have been negatively affected by them to contact Chatham-Kent Victim Services, at (519) 436-6630.
Police said they take hate-motivated incidents seriously and will thoroughly investigate any reports of that nature.
They also noted that they appreciate the public's cooperation in eliminating these types of incidents in the community.
Anyone with information on the specific case listed above is asked to contact Constable Doug Littlewood at douglasl@chatham-kent.ca.
Anonymous callers can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and may be eligible for a cash reward.