Man wanted for cutting down, stealing LGBTQ banner at West Village playground
Published in News & Features
NEW YORK — Cops are hunting a man they say cut down an LGBTQ art banner hung outside a playground in Manhattan’s West Village.
The suspect cut down the banner displayed at the Corporal John A. Seravalli Playground on Horatio Street near Hudson Street around 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 6, police said.
Surveillance images released by the NYPD on Tuesday show the suspect carrying the now-rolled-up banner away from the scene. Police described him as a man with a light complexion and slim build.
Detectives from the NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force are investigating the incident.
Hate crimes in the 6th Precinct are up 36%, with 15 incidents this year compared to 11 in 2025. That’s worse than the 16% spike in hate crimes across the five boroughs, which saw 456 incidents in 2026 compared to 393 last year.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577-TIPS. All calls will be kept confidential.
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