3 Jews arrested for anti-Semitic messages

Two men and a boy were arrested today after anti-Semitic spray-painted messages were discovered on the exterior signs of two Jewish institutions in Pikesville over the weekend, Baltimore County police said.

One of the men is a member of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation in the 5500 block of Slade Ave,. where the word Nazi and a swastika were spray-painted on signs, said Cpl. Michael Hill, a police spokesman. Signs at Beth Tfiloh Community School in the 3300 block of Old Court Road were similarly defaced.

The incidents are not being treated as hate crimes, Hill said, but he would not discuss a motive for the vandalism. Police are withholding the identities of the men until they are charged, he said. They could face misdemeanor charges of destruction of property and damaging property of a religious entity, Hill said.

An officer responding to an unrelated incident noticed a car leaving the Beth Tfiloh Community School parking lot about 3 a.m. Sunday and police were later able to locate the vehicle and its three occupants, Hill said.

Black paint was used in both incidents, which occurred less than a mile apart. The incidents took place days before the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur and had been investigated as possible hate crimes.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-vandalism1007,0,255613.story