Snapchat pic of dead deer, the N-word has attention of Maple Grove police

For the second time in less than a week, Maple Grove officials are confronting racially charged language, this time involving a social media photo of a teenage girl posing with two dead deer and a caption that includes the N-word.

Police said Monday that they are investigating the photo, which was seen as recently as Sunday on Snapchat.

The picture shows a smiling girl in a Rogers High School sweatshirt standing between two deer hanging by their necks. Superimposed at the bottom of the photo are the words: "Only if these where N------," followed by three laughing emojis with tears. The word "where" apparently was meant to be "were."

A girl's first name is stamped in the upper left corner of the photo. However, Maple Grove Capt. Adam Lindquist said, "Preliminary information tells us the girl in the photo is not the author of the offensive message."

Lindquist said the photo was reported to his department Sunday night. He declined to say be more specific about how the image might be connected to the Maple Grove community.

He did say that "it is disturbing to see this type of behavior continue."

On the day after Election Day at Maple Grove High School, racist graffiti was found in a bathroom, which included messages such as "#whitesonly," "Trump Train" and "#gobacktoafrica."

The vandalism remains under police investigation.

The school has about 458 students of color out of 2,271 students, and some said they have been targeted for their skin color.

School district spokeswoman Barb Olson said administrators are aware of the photo.

She said she knows nothing else about the image.

"When we know what something is, we call it like it is," Olson said. "We don't know what this is."

Rogers High School officials were not immediately available for comment.

Other incidents of harassment have been reported at Minnesota's schools and colleges in the wake of Donald Trump's election as president.

One incident occurred at the University of St. Thomas, where a racial slur appeared on a sidewalk.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482