KKK faction denies involvement in case of racially charged signs posted in Port St. Lucie

PORT ST LUCIE — After anti-semetic and racially charged signs posted in Port St. Lucie launched a police investigation, the Loyal White Knights of the Klu Klux Klan are denying involvement, their leader said Friday.

Imperial Wizard Chris Barker called TCPalm after hearing about the incident and said he never heard of Port St. Lucie, adding his organization doesn't have a chapter in the area.

The group's closest chapter is in Jacksonville.

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Port St. Lucie Police spokesman Master Sgt. Frank Sabol said the department has identified a suspect.

Though the man denies putting up the posters, he is known to have "radical views" and a fascination with white-supremacist movements, such as the KKK and neo-Nazi movements, Sabol said.

The suspect has no formal involvement with the KKK, Sabol added.

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Barker said a few key things gave away the signs were not from the Loyal White Knights.

All signage is made in North Carolina, where the group is based. Members wishing to post or hand out signs have to get them directly from Barker.

Another clue was in the message itself. Barker said Loyal White Knights materials rarely have swastikas on them.

"Most of our ancestors fought against the Nazis," Barker said.

Though he doesn't want his group implicated in the crime, Barker said he wasn't going to reach out to Port St. Lucie Police Department.

Sabol said the department is struggling over whether putting up the signs was even a crime. Investigators spoke to the Florida State Attorney's Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation about the incidents.

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At the worst, Sabol said, police could only charge the suspect with trespassing or violating a city ordinance.

"It's distasteful and unbelievable, but, other than city ordinances, there isn't much there," Sabol said.

Bohatch is a breaking news reporter at TCPalm. Contact Bohatch at 772-692-8998 or emily.bohatch@tcpalm.com. Twitter: @emilybohatch