Henderson man's Kamala Harris sign hit by racist vandalism; Police are investigating

A Henderson homeowner whose Kamala Harris campaign sign and Halloween decorations were defaced by racist vandalism early Halloween morning says he's “sad for our country” in the heat of the presidential election.

Henderson police say they are investigating.

Justin Phelps has lived in the Inspirada community for 10 years, which he says is the best in the valley for raising children.

“I don’t have an ax to grind either way; I’m sure it’s happening to both the people who support Trump and the people who support Harris,” Phelps said Friday afternoon. “That is the tenor in which the country finds itself. Everyone is full of emotions about the election.”

The damage included multiple insults as well as vandalism to a poster supporting Vice President Kamala Harris. Tags included profanity and Nazi swastikas, as well as use of the N-word and other vulgar symbols. Photos posted on X showed the N-word on the Harris sign, Nazi swastikas on a Halloween skeleton decoration and crudely drawn images of male genitals. There were no writings on Phelps' front door, but Phelps said they were largely the same.

The vandalism is being investigated as a politically motivated crime, the Henderson Police Department said in an email.

“We are actively investigating the matter and all preliminary information indicates that the incident is politically motivated and not a hate or racially motivated crime,” the email said.

Asked why police did not classify the vandalism as a hate or racially motivated crime despite racial slurs, the agency declined to elaborate and said the incident was under investigation.

“I’m not pointing the finger at any particular group. If I were in the minority I might think it was a hate crime, but I think maybe they wanted to embarrass us and maybe they needed to force us to put everything down,” said Phelps, who is white.

Phelps said images from his doorbell camera showed an adult male wearing a hood and a ski mask over his face with his eyes still visible. He was standing on a porch in front of the front door.

“I think it was intentional because he had all the supplies like a glue stick and markers and destroyed several other things and stuck the Nazi symbol on things,” Phelps said.

Phelps said the damage occurred around 4:25 a.m. Thursday and he was busy removing what he could before trick-or-treating hours later Thursday.

“We are on Via Firenze and Volunteer (Boulevard),” he said of the family home, which he said was one of the first in the neighborhood.

“I had about five hours to cover it up. We had about 300 trick-or-treaters on Thursday night, and all the neighborhood kids took the bus that was just a few doors down,” he said.

He said he had the markings on the front door covered before the children arrived Thursday evening, but said he was sure the students saw the vandalism from the street before getting on the bus Thursday morning.

Phelps runs National Youth Sports and freelances as an announcer for various sports teams in the Las Vegas Valley. The Cincinnati native has lived in the valley for about 20 years.

“This is the best community to live in and that’s why it was so shocking,” he said. “Occasionally you hear that a car is being broken into. I never thought this would happen.”

Phelps said he had to repaint his teal front door because the HOA refused.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Henderson Police Department at 702-267-4911, 311. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555 or visit the Crime Stoppers website. Tips that lead directly to a felony arrest or charge handled by Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.

Contact Marvin Clemons at [email protected].