Originally posted by The Daily Northwestern

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available. Last updated Feb. 20 at 4:35 p.m. 

The Evanston Police Department is investigating “swastika graffiti” on a viaduct beneath Chicago Transit Authority Purple Line tracks, EPD Cmdr. Chelsea Brown confirmed in a Tuesday statement to The Daily.

EPD first received a report of graffiti on the viaduct at 915 Davis St. on Jan. 30, just one day before the department learned of similar vandalism on a park bench near Clark Street Beach, according to Brown.

EPD “has not made any arrests in connection with the reported anti-Semitic graffiti incidents” as of Wednesday afternoon, Brown wrote in a statement to The Daily that day. 

“Both matters remain open investigations. Detectives continue to review available information and follow up on any leads,” Brown wrote. “If additional evidence is developed, the department will take appropriate action.”

The symbols on both the bench and viaduct have been painted over as of Thursday evening. 

A CTA spokesperson told The Daily on Friday that authorities removed the swastika graffiti on Thursday “as soon as we were made aware of it” and emphasized the importance of maintaining “welcoming spaces.” The spokesperson also pointed to a chatbot on the CTA website that allows community members to report suspected vandalism.

On Feb. 12, with EPD’s assistance, the Northwestern University Police Department arrested an individual in connection with antisemitic graffiti found on campus on Feb. 1. The suspect is charged with a hate crime, trespassing and criminal damage to property over $500, according to a Thursday statement to The Daily from a University spokesperson.

However, citing EPD’s ongoing investigation, Brown wrote Wednesday that the department is “not able to confirm any specific connections” between the incidents. She declined to comment on EPD’s cooperation with NUPD moving forward, “beyond noting that the department works with partner agencies when appropriate.”

In a Thursday phone interview with The Daily, when asked specifically about the suspect arrested in connection with the on-campus vandalism, Brown reiterated that EPD has pursued “all investigative leads that have been available” but ultimately “did not have enough evidence to reach the threshold of probable cause.”

Images reviewed by The Daily show the vandalism of the bench and viaduct closely resembled the hate symbols found on campus.