Ocala sign vandalized with hate speech

County officials investigating

OCALA, Fla. – Hate speech marked a marquee in Ocala on Tuesday morning.

Racial slurs and derogatory wording filled both sides of the Rotary Sportsplex marquee along Maricamp Road.

A driver took a picture of the marquee and alerted Marion County officials.

"Normally, the sign would be locked so park staff would have to unlock that to put the new messages up, but in this case because it had been damaged, someone was able to get in there and change those words," said Nick Zoller, public relations director for Marion County.

Zoller believes the racial slur was put up around 2 or 3 a.m. Tuesday.

He said a park ranger changed it before sunrise.

"For people like us, coming into town and having a good experience here and to see that it kind of leaves a little black eye on it. But you know, it is what it is. We are going to enjoy ourselves and understand that there's ignorant people around," said Derek Dennis.

Dennis and his family are visiting Ocala from North Carolina.

They're one of many families who are traveling to the park during the next few days for the Babe Ruth Southeastern Regional Tournament at the Rotary Sportsplex.

The complex is playing host.

"It does frustrate you because you try to teach your children to respect everybody individually and to understand that there's people that don't respect, you know, everybody individually, so it is definitely frustrating," Dennis said.

The county has filed a report with the Marion County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities are investigating this as a criminal mischief case.

Lauren Lettelier, with Marion County Sheriff's Office, said at this time, because there's no hard proof that whoever did this was targeting a specific group or person, the office can't work consider the act as a hate crime.

But charges could change if new information is found.

The photo of the sign was posted on Facebook, but Zoller said the county contacted the social media giant and requested the photo be removed.

It is no longer posted on Facebook.