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GIFFORD — A woman found with white paint on her hands and clothing was jailed late Thursday after deputies linked her to three vandalism cases targeting two churches and a historical museum in Gifford this week. Deputies said the woman painted over signs, historical markers, plaques and a bench.

“We believe she is connected to all of the incidents,” Jaworski said. “The motive is unknown.”

Tiffany Clarke PHOTO CONTRIBUTED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

Tiffany Shay Clarke, 42, described as homeless, was charged with burglary of an unoccupied structure; criminal mischief to a church, synagogue, mosque or religious article; and second-degree petit theft. Clarke, who also goes by the alias Taneisha Cole, was held Friday at the Indian River County Jail on a $10,500 bond.

When asked why she had paint on her hands, Clarke responded she was “painting her house down the street,” but could not provide the address, an arrest report shows.

The first incident took place sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning at the Gifford Historical Museum and Cultural Center located at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 2880 45th St., Gifford. Deputies said Clarke destroyed a red and white sign that read “Gifford Historical Museum and Cultural Center.”

Clarke also painted over a historical marker standing near the corner of 45th Street and 28th Court. The marker has the title “Gifford Community” and tells the story of the origins of Gifford.

Deputies said Clarke spread paint on a plaque and bench honoring the late Victor Hart Sr., the former longtime NAACP president who advocated for Gifford to have improved infrastructures, clean water, paved streets, streetlights and stop signs.

The second incident took place at Mount Zion AME Church, 4221 28th Ave. in Gifford. The date of the vandalism was unclear.

Deputies said Clarke spread white paint over wall plaques with the names of church stewards and trustees. The plaques are located on the outside of the building.

The third act happened Thursday night at Salt of the Earth Ministry, 3190 45th St. in Gifford. A church representative told deputies that someone stole a paint bucket on the west side of the property and poured a large amount on the sidewalk, reports show.

Deputies later found Clarke covered in white paint and walking eastbound on 45th Street, just east of Salt of the Earth Ministry. Deputies detained Clarke and booked her into the county jail.

A representative from Salt of the Earth Ministry told deputies that Clarke previously defaced the church on June 7 when she used white paint to smear 21 signs, according to reports.

A total estimate in damages and surveillance footage were not immediately available. Clarke has an arraignment at 9 a.m. July 22, court records show.

“The Indian River County Sheriff’s Office takes crimes against our community’s houses of worship seriously, and we want to thank the property owners for their cooperation in this investigation,” sheriff’s officials said in a statement.