Juvenile charged with painting swastikas on Port Washington school
John Philip Sousa Elementary School in Port Washington on Monday Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
A student has been arrested in connection with the spray-painting of two swastikas discovered Sunday evening on a Port Washington elementary school.
The graffiti was a "reprehensible and hateful act of anti-Semitism," Port Washington's schools superintendent, Michael J. Hynes, wrote in a letter to the community.
"I’m incredibly proud of our staff and students for being instrumental throughout the process of identifying a student and peer to protect our community," the letter said.
Daria Martorana, a spokeswoman for the district, confirmed that Hynes was referring to the arrest of a student in the district.
Port Washington police did not release the identity of the juvenile, but said he was arrested Thursday and charged with first-degree aggravated harassment and third-degree criminal mischief as a hate crime. Because his identity has been withheld, arraignment information was not available.
Police said the juvenile was arrested following an investigation into the incident, which involved the graffiti being spray-painted onto the front and rear facades of the John Philip Sousa Elementary School on Sands Point Road.
Sands Point police had increased patrols around the nearby Community Synagogue in Sands Point.
It was not immediately clear if surveillance footage of a suspect released earlier this week by police had a role in developing leads but police said information received through a tip line eventually led to the arrest.
With Matthew Chayes
John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”
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'Tis the season for the NewsdayTV Holiday Show! The NewsdayTV team looks at the most wonderful time of the year and the traditions that make it special on LI.
