By Mike De Felice

Special to Kitsap Daily News

PORT ORCHARD – Port Orchard Police have yet to make an arrest in connection with a possible anti-Asian hate crime involving property damage and graffiti at a residence in the city.

On March 30, an alleged suspect was captured on security camera footage at a residence in the 2100 block of Caleb Place Southeast in Port Orchard. Photos taken afterward showed spray-paint damage on a vehicle and the residence. The car was marked in red spray paint with “AZN,” which may be an abbreviation for Asian. The residence was also defaced.

The police described the suspect as being 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-6 inches tall with a thin build and wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with black pants.

“We are investigating this as a possible hate crime,” Chief Matt Brown reiterated.

Police have sought search warrants in the case as part of their investigation, Brown said.

The chief would not indicate if police have identified anyone as a person of interest or whether investigators have hit any roadblocks in the case.

While anti-Asian crimes are on the rise in many parts of the country, no other anti-Asian incidents have been reported in the city since the May incident, the chief said.

Detective Beth Deatherage is assigned to the case. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call her at 360-876-1700 or email her at edeatherage@cityofportorchard.us.

Tips may also be left anonymously at that number or through 911, according to police.