Monica Davis, a Black realtor of an abandoned home on Ogden Street in Toledo, Ohio, was alerted that her listing had been vandalized with the words “N***ers Keep Out” and “Heil Trump.”
Police staked out the home of Patricia Edelen, 47, hours after neighbors alerted Davis she had done the handiwork on the home next to her realty sign. Edelen didn’t answer when police knocked, which resulted in a forced entry in order to arrest her, according to Sergeant Paul Davis.
Davis captured the hateful message in a video and discussed hope for the city to do something about this, saying this has not been the first time:
Monica Davis, a black real estate agent had her listing vandalized in Toledo Ohio. This wasn’t the first time!
RETWEET THIS!!! pic.twitter.com/VgHLBahjfb
StanceGrounded (@_SJPeace_) July 15, 2018
Toledo was having an African American parade the same day, and councilman Yvonne Harper showed up at the address after the parade to see the racist messages. She called the mayor, who called the police chief, and officers were already in route.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz said: “That something terrible and hateful happens, and that the neighbors of that community decide to come together and send a stronger message of solidarity and love … that warms my heart.”
Edelen, who had multiple warrants and ran from the police, was charged with criminal mischief, ethnic intimidation, criminally damaging property to create substantial risk of physical harm and impeding a public official, all misdemeanors. She is being held at Lucas County Jail on $25,000 bail.
Neighbors who had security camera installed because of Edelen, according to a local ABC affiliate, were in possession of video surveillance of the crime in progress.
Some neighbors saw Davis’ video and immediately grabbed power washers and went to the address to help wash off the hateful messages, including Carina Urbieta, owner of a local cheerleading studio.
“Ninety percent of our athletes are African American young women. They have to grow up and see those things,” said Urbieta, who grew up in the neighborhood.
A few of her cheerleaders helped scrub the brick walls of the home, and one 15-year-old, Jayla Mitchell, said it changed the way she feels about the city.
“That’s just horrible to see in Toledo,” Mitchell said.
Councilman Peter Ujvagi posted photos of the community coming together on his Facebook page: “.a dozen Toledo citizens, without being asked by anyone, came together to try and eliminate the stain on our heart.”
