Police Investigating Hate Crime Vandalization of Gay Couple's Christmas Decorations

Police are investigating the vandalization of a gay couple's Christmas decorations, Lost Coast Outpost reports.

The Eureka, Cal. Couple had two gingerbread men holding hands and a Pride flag in their front yard. The handmade gingerbread men had been ripped out of the ground, smeared with feces, and left beneath the Pride flag. Brian Kleinmeyer, one half of the gay couple, said "They literally ripped them out of the ground, and wiped their asses with them, and carefully laid them at the base of our Pride Flag. I thought things might get stolen, but never in a million years did I think this would happen. I'm completely in shock."

The incident is being investigated by Eureka police as a hate crime. After Kleinmeyer reported the incident, police dispatched an officer to the scene. Police chief Steve Watson said it appeared as a "deliberate act based on the suspect's perception" of the homeowners' sexual orientation.

Investigating officers will file a criminal report for a hate crime under California Penal Code 442.6(b). Under California state law, a hate crime is defined as a criminal act committed, in whole or in part, because of the victim's disability, gender, nationality, race/ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

With a conviction, the suspect could face up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.

This is the second incident in two weeks' time for Kleinmeyer and boyfriend Daniel Kain. Suspects in the first incident "broke a Santa sleigh in half and tangled up a bunch of my Christmas lights." It is unknown as to whether the suspects in both incidents might be the same person or people.

On Thursday, Watson stopped by and surprised the couple with some gingerbread cookies. Kleinmeyer told Lost Coast Outpost, "I'm not going to lie, I didn't cry over our decorations being vandalized, but I did from the kindness we have been shown since it happened. I'm completely blown away."