Damian Giletto

The News Journal

Delaware State Police is looking for a woman who defaced a Black Lives Matter sign at a Talleyville church last week, an official said.

The incident happened on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at about 3 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church in the 700 block of Halstead Road, said Cpl. Jeffrey Hale, a spokesman with the Delaware State Police Department.

The sign, which was torn earlier this summer, duct taped back together and redisplayed, was defaced again.

The suspect was seen writing on the sign, which was posted on the church's property along Concord Pike, several times, Hale said.

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The church raised the sign after it was damaged the first time hoping it wouldn't be vandalized again, said Rev. Roberta Finkelstein, the Developmental Minister at the church.

State police and Finkelstein declined to comment on what was written, "We are not releasing specific details as to what was written so as to not jeopardize this investigation", Hale said.

Finkelstein added that the damage to the sign is "minor" compared to what happened the last time.

"When we embarked on this advocacy project, we expected there might be this vandalism and some disagreement in the community so we were prepared for this. What's important for us is not to focus on the vandalism, but to focus on the message.", Finkelstein said.

She added that the church has had a lot of fruitful and open conversations with the community.

The suspect was captured on video getting on a DART bus and leaving the area, Hale said.

Anyone who can identify the woman is asked call Delaware State Police Troop 1 at 761-6677, calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333, online at www.crimestoppersweb.com or by sending an anonymous text to 274637 using the keyword "DSP".