MACOMB COUNTY (WWJ) - A Warren man is facing jail time after he was charged this week in connection to spray-painting swastikas and other graffiti on a church and in a park bathroom in Macomb County back in 2021.
The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan announced David Bluer, 33, of Warren was charged on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, with one count of damaging a religious property and one count of interfering with federally protected activities for the incidents reported on October 25th, 2021 shortly before Sunday services at Greater New Life Church near Gratiot and Frazho in Roseville.
At the time, Greater New Life Church Pastor Darrell Moore said someone painted several swastikas, the word “die” and the initials “JDS” on the building.
The vandalized church offers services to a predominantly black congregation.
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Bluer is also accused of spray-painting swastikas, a racist slur and symbols and other graffiti on the public bathroom of Trombly Park in Warren.
"The racist graffiti included the statement 'DaviD KiLLS Ni**ERS," the U.S. District Attorney's Office said in an update on the case. "Allegedly, Bluer acted because of the race and color of Black people who used the park, and because Black people were and had been enjoying the park."
The FBI Detroit Field Office investigated the case, officials added.
Bluer faces a maximum penalty of two years in prison if convicted on both charges.