City investigating doll hanging from streetlight

Pittsburgh police are investigating “a report of a baby doll hanging from a light pole” near the intersection of Brushton Avenue and Mohler Street in Homewood North, according to police spokesman Chris Togneri.

He said in an email response to questions that at about 9:38 a.m. Thursday, police responded to the intersection and “observed a weather-beaten, AfricanAmerican doll hanging by a rope from a light pole.” Firefighters removed the doll, police said.

The ensuing police investigation includes a review of city camera footage, according to Mr. Togneri, and anyone with information is asked to call the Zone 5 station at 412665-3605.

State Rep. Ed Gainey, DLincoln-Lemington, wrote in a news release that he is demanding answers to what he called “an apparent racial incident.”

“I am disturbed and sickened by this incident,” he wrote. “I find it appalling, but sadly not surprising that in 2019 we are still confronted with these public displays of hate in our communities.

“Whether it is a racially motivated incident like this or an attack on a religious group, we cannot allow hate to fester and take hold in our communities. While we cannot allow events like this to define who we are, neither can we allow them to pass unremarked,” Mr. Gainey wrote. “We are better than this, Pittsburgh is better than this.”

Mr. Gainey thanked the community for reporting the incident and the city for a quick response.