SUNNYSIDE, Texas – The Houston Police Department Office has launched an investigation after a Martin Luther King Jr. statue was vandalized Thursday afternoon in Bricker Park in Sunnyside, police said.
A patrol officer discovered white paint had been poured on the MLK statue at 4 a.m. during a routine checkup, police said. The officer took pictures of the vandalism and called the Houston Fire Department to wash off the paint, officials said.
The case will be investigated as criminal mischief.
Authorities have not released a statement on whether this may be connected to the Columbus statue vandalism.
Read: Christopher Columbus statue vandalized in Bell Park
Houston police told KPRC2 that they cannot release photos of the vandalism.
KPRC2 will provide further details as the story develops.