Swastika removed from Jefferson County hillside along I-70

A large swastika made out of sheets was removed from a Jefferson County hillside along Interstate 70 on Saturday, according to the sheriff’s office.

The sheets were anchored to a hill in Jefferson County Open Space near Lookout Mountain, on the south side of I-70 and visible from the highway, sheriff’s office spokesperson Jacki Kelley said.

Investigators believe vandals placed the hate symbol on the side of the hill sometime Friday night, Kelley said. Rangers were alerted to the display shortly after sunrise on Saturday and hiked up to it.

The symbol was removed but not before a lot of people had no choice but to see it along the highway, Kelley said.

She said the display disturbed the sheriff’s office as much as it did anyone driving by.

“We strongly condemn this vile, antisemitic symbol of hate,” Jefferson County’s Board of County Commissioners said in a statement. “We stand united with our community against intolerance in any form. This shameful act does not reflect our community’s values and will not be tolerated.”

Sheriff’s officials opened a criminal case report and used a drone to take footage of the bedsheet swastika before rangers removed it, Kelley said. Deputies are searching for the suspect, but it’s not clear what the person would be charged with if caught.

Anyone with information about the incident — or who may have heard someone bragging about the display — is asked to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office’s tip line at 303-271-5612.

Earlier this year, a window of Denver’s historic Austin Building along East Colfax Avenue was smashed after it displayed a swastika symbol for at least five days.

That case was under investigation by the Denver Police Department’s Bias-Motivated Crimes Unit.

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