Las Vegas police investigating break-in at Republican headquarters
The Clark County Republican Party will consider increasing security at its Las Vegas headquarters after a break-in this weekend, the second recent incident of vandalism, party leaders say.
Someone shattered a front glass door to get into the building Friday night or Saturday morning, said Tiffany Fung, political director of the Clark County Republican Party. She said everyone in the office had left around 5 p.m. Friday.
At 5:41 a.m., police received a report of a burglary at the Alta Drive office, Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Jeff Clark said.
Inside the office, some caucus files were rummaged through, and the coffee maker was missing, Fung said, calling it “very odd.”
While the motive for the break-in was unclear, and Clark County GOP leaders don’t suspect political foul play, the Nevada Republican Party said it appeared to have been committed by “an unhinged opponent of the Republican Party.”
Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald said in a statement: “While we respect the ongoing investigation, we can’t help but lean toward believing the hatred behind the divisive impeachment inquiry has driven leftist activists to committing an act of violence against a Republican office in Las Vegas.
“We hope the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department apprehends whomever is responsible as soon as possible before they commit any other acts of violence against Republicans in Southern Nevada.”
It was the second time the office has been vandalized recently. A photo obtained by the Review-Journal showed profanity and a racial slur in reference to President Donald Trump carved into the same glass door that was smashed this weekend.
Clark, the lieutenant, said he didn’t have information about the window carving.
Clark County Republican Party Chair David Sajdak, who confirmed the carving happened last month, said Saturday he does not believe the break-in was politically motivated.
“No, I think it’s more the trash hanging around the complex,” Sajdak said.
Sajdak said he was not worried about any of the documents inside the office being photographed because they were not sensitive.
He said the party is looking into installing security cameras and will be back at work Monday.
Sajdak was not aware the coffee maker had been stolen.
“I guess they were thirsty,” he said.
State Sen. Scott Hammond, R-Las Vegas, hadn’t heard about the break-in when reached Saturday afternoon.
“It’s unfortunate that anything gets broken into,” he said.
Hammond said he doesn’t want to overreact. If the incident were politically motivated — and he said he would hate to think that’s the case — “Why can’t two parties exist without this kind of hatred?”
Contact Julie Wootton-Greener at jgreener@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2921. Follow @julieswootton on Twitter. Contact Rory Appleton at rappleton@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0276. Follow @RoryDoesPhonics on Twitter.
