At a Glance
- A Bell LGBTQ+ center says surveillance cameras caught a man repeatedly hurling bagged dog feces at its building since May.
- Bell Police Chief Damian Velasco says the act does not qualify as vandalism under state law because the waste was contained in bags.
- Investigators are still determining whether the incidents constitute a hate crime; the suspect’s name has not been released.
- Why it matters: The case highlights a potential gap between what victims see as targeted harassment and what current statutes can prosecute.
A Bell LGBTQ+ center thought it had found its culprit after installing surveillance cameras to catch whoever had been throwing dog feces at its Florence Avenue building. Leaders at Mi SELA Services say the footage clearly shows the same man lobbing bagged waste at the property on multiple occasions since May.
Yet when they presented the evidence to police, the answer they received was frustrating: the act does not meet the legal threshold for vandalism.
Bell Police Chief Damian Velasco explained the decision.
> “I think everybody needs to know that we’ve been in touch with the District Attorney’s office,” Velasco said. “Everyone’s on the same page that at this point. There’s nothing to suggest that this business was specifically targeted because of its affiliation with the LGBTQ community.”
The distinction hinges on how state law defines vandalism. Because the feces were sealed inside plastic bags, Velasco said, the building sustained no permanent damage and therefore lacks the key element required for a vandalism charge.
Dr. Wilma Franco, executive director of Mi SELA Services, voiced disappointment but acknowledged the legal reality.
> “We understand, right? What the chief is saying in terms of based on the law, it is not (vandalism) because we don’t have other evidence that would suggest that. However, you know, sometimes we have to revisit laws.”
Investigation Continues
Officers have attempted to contact the man seen in the surveillance footage, according to News Of Losangeles‘s reporting. While the vandalism avenue appears closed, detectives are still examining whether the repeated targeting of an LGBTQ+ center amounts to a hate crime under California statute.
Key facts still under review:
- Frequency of the attacks
- Any prior interaction between the suspect and the center
- Statements the suspect may have made online or in person
- Whether other nearby businesses have experienced similar acts
Police have not released the man’s identity, citing the ongoing investigation.
Center Responds
Mi SELA Services opened the cameras-only initiative in late spring after staff arrived several mornings to find smeared bags of excrement on the sidewalk and outer walls. The center serves roughly 1,200 clients a year, offering mental-health counseling, HIV testing, and youth programs.
Staff say the incidents, though non-violent, created an atmosphere of unease.
> “Our participants already face enough stigma,” Franco said. “Seeing someone go out of their way to degrade the space where they seek support feels personal.”
After the first few clean-ups, the center invested in a four-camera system that stores footage for 30 days. The break came in early June when a volunteer reviewing overnight clips spotted a man parking across the street, walking up with a small white bag, and tossing it onto the property before quickly leaving.
Legal Limits
California Penal Code §594 defines vandalism as maliciously damaging, destroying, or defacing property. Courts have interpreted “defacing” to require some lasting mark or damage. Bagged waste, while offensive, leaves no permanent trace once removed.
Hate-crime provisions under §422.55 require evidence that the act was motivated wholly or in part by bias against a protected characteristic, including sexual orientation or gender identity. Without explicit statements or symbols, prosecutors must build a pattern showing the victim was chosen because of its LGBTQ+ affiliation.
Bell city attorney Rosa Alarcón confirmed her office is consulting with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Hate Crimes Unit to review the file.
Community Reaction
Local advocates held a small rally outside Mi SELA Services on Wednesday, holding signs that read “Stop the Hate” and “Bagged or Not, It’s Still Harassment.” Participants called on lawmakers to broaden vandalism statutes to include repeated targeting with bio-waste.
State Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes, whose district includes Bell, said she is exploring legislation that would lower the bar for what constitutes vandalism when an establishment is singled out.
> “No one should have to power-wash dog feces off their entrance every week,” Reyes said. “If current law can’t address this, then we need to update the law.”
Next Steps
Mi SELA Services has added motion-sensor lighting and is seeking a grant for a security gate. Staff have also begun logging each incident in a shared spreadsheet that timestamps video clips, cleanup costs, and any witness observations.
Police urge anyone with information to contact Bell Police Detective Bureau at 323-587-5385. Tips can remain anonymous.
Velasco emphasized the department takes all bias-related allegations seriously, even when charges are not immediately clear.
> “We’re committed to a thorough investigation,” he said. “If evidence supports a hate-crime enhancement, we will present that to the DA.”
For now, the center’s doors stay open, its rainbow flag intact, and its staff watching the sidewalk each morning for any new bags that might appear.
