From staff reports
Autism awareness ribbons that had been hung in downtown Oil City were damaged between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. Thursday, according to Oil City police.
At about 5 p.m. Wednesday, Brandy Hinojosa, the coordinator for Autism Stands, said she and a team of volunteers spent two hours hanging blue ribbons along Seneca and Elm streets and on the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Oil City police Chief Bob Wenner said police will increase patrols across the bridge in an effort to prevent further damage.
Wenner said police will monitor activity via video feeds from the area near where the damage took place.
“This is a nice community effort and I don’t know why someone would take joy from destroying the hard work of a local awareness event,” Wenner said.
Hinojosa said a few volunteers will help her replace the ribbons. All the ribbons are made possible through donations from the community.
