STOCKTON, Calif. — The Stockton Police Department is investigating whether a case of vandalism at a historic Stockton church was a hate crime.
Cleanup work was underway Sunday morning after officials at Stockton's Cathedral of the Annunciation discovered that the 81-year-old church on Rose Street was vandalized with white paint overnight.
Investigators believe that someone randomly applied the paint to the church's front door area, walkway and landscaping area around 5:45 a.m. Sunday. A flatbed trailer parked near the landmark church was also painted.
Police do not have information about the vandal, but ask people with details to call 209-937-8377.
According to a Facebook post published by the Catholic church Sunday morning, the vandalism did not impact Sunday masses, but worshipers were temporarily asked to use alternate doors.
The church said that a maintenance worker and a volunteer helped clean the damage Sunday morning using a pressure washer.
"Thank you to the community for your prayers. God is good!" the church said in a Facebook post.
Founded in 1942, the Cathedral of the Annunciation serves as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton.
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