Vandalism of 23-year-old Black man's memorial leads to arrest of Happy Valley resident

Oregon City police arrested a white Clackamas County employee Thursday for vandalizing the memorial of a Black man who died after attempting to kill himself in the Clackamas County Jail, according to police.

Collin Michael Williams, 20, of Happy Valley posted a video of himself online Wednesday kicking over the candles, framed pictures, flowers and signs put out to remember Jermelle Madison. He then posted about spray painting a Nazi swastika on the sidewalk next to it.

Williams admitted to the vandalization after police tracked his purchase of the spray paint and matched his car to the one leaving the scene, police said. Officers then found the paint in his car, they said.

Clackamas County employees have since removed the hate symbol.

Read more: https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2021/08/vandalism-of-23-year-old-black-mans-memorial-leads-to-arrest-of-happy-valley-resident.html