News Releases

Detectives Seek Help to Identify Suspects Responsible for Hate-Based Vandalism in Rockville

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Detectives from the 1^st District Investigative Section are asking the public for assistance in locating suspects responsible for vandalism that is believed to be hate-based.

On Sunday, April 24 between 3:45 and 4:00 p.m., 1^st District officers responded for the report of vandalism that had just recently occurred at Welsh Park on Mannakee Street and at Beall Elementary School located at 451 Beall Avenue in Rockville.

Through the course of the preliminary investigation it was determined that a witness had seen two boys, described as white teenagers, spray painting swastikas in the wooded area between Beall Elementary School and Welsh Park.

The responding officers were not able to locate the suspects. They did find two painted swastikas along the footpath in the wooded area near the dead end of Luckett Street. One of the swastikas was found on the trunk of a tree. The other was painted on a personalized memorial stone with a plaque commemorating “Charles W. Gilchrist – Forest Preserve at Welsh Park – Dedicated to the Citizens of Rockville.” A third swastika was located at Beall Elementary School. It was painted on a piece of exercise equipment near the portable classrooms on school grounds.

The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington have been contacted in relation to this incident.

Anyone with information about this vandalism and/or the involved suspects is asked to call the 1^st District Investigative Section at 240-773-6084

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lehb

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Release ID: 16-104
Media Contact: mcpnews 
Categories: press-releases