Man questioned on KKK flyers

NORWALK — Police in Norwalk say they have questioned a man believed to be responsible for leaving Ku Klux Klan recruitment flyers across several city neighborhoods last month. Chief Scott Dahlgren confirmed the contact, saying investigators do not think the situation poses a continuing danger. "We found an individual we believe to be responsible," Dahlgren said. "We spoke with him and we do not believe there to be an active threat at this time," According to Dahlgren, the department has had contact with the man in the past. The papers, sealed inside plastic bags weighted with pieces of candy, were left overnight on sidewalks and driveways. They included slogans tied to white-supremacist ideology along with phone numbers and website links connected to KKK groups. Similar handouts have turned up in other Ohio cities — including Sandusky, Elyria, Findlay, Lorain and Columbus — and across the Midwest in recent years. Extremist groups have often used these late-night drops as a way to spread propaganda while avoiding direct confrontation with the public. Civil rights monitors, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, have tracked a rise in the practice nationwide since 2017. The tactic is described as low-cost, low-risk and meant to shock communities more than to recruit new members. Residents who discovered the materials voiced anger and unease. Some shared photos on social media, warning neighbors to stay alert. Others contacted police right away. Community leaders have stressed that the flyers do not represent the values of the city. Norwalk Mayor Dave Light condemned the flyers, categorizing them as "an attempt to sow division" and urging residents not to let hate groups gain a foothold. "This does not represent who we are. Our city rejects hate and intimidation," Light said. Officers collected the flyers and canvassed the areas where they appeared. Dahlgren said the department will continue to keep an eye on the situation. Police urged anyone who comes across similar material in the future to contact the department rather than engage directly.