SWAMPSCOTT — Police are investigating an incident involving a swastika that was drawn on a sidewalk Friday in one of the town’s neighborhoods.
The swastika was spray painted on a sidewalk near Redington Street and Forest Avenue, the Swampscott Police Department said in a statement.
A patrol unit was dispatched to a nearby house for a report of vandalism in the middle of the afternoon Friday, according to Sgt. Jay Locke, a department spokesman. On scene, officers discovered paint on the front of a nearby driveway along with the anti-semitic drawing and white paint running down the side of a car parked across the street.
A can of white spray paint was obtained further down the road, which may be able to help police identify those involved.
Police are currently asking residents in the area to review home camera footage between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. in order to determine if they can use it to identify any individuals that may have been involved, though the time frame may be pushed later into the evening around 8 or 9 p.m., Locke said.
“We’re actually trying to expand the time frame. It’s en route to the middle school, it’s not too far off,” he said. “Where this occurred is short of one of the last houses where Redington and Forest meet. There was a basketball game that night from what I understand so somebody may have been going by.”
Locke said that the police department will be talking with the school to try and obtain video footage that could aid in the investigation. The painting is not currently believed to have been targeting a specific household in the area.
Religious organizations in the community were made aware of the situation by Swampscott Civil Rights Officer Det. Ted Delano and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) was also informed.
Many who live in the area took to Facebook to condemn the actions, including on the police department’s post. Locke called the painting “egregious”, stating that there is no place for acts like those in the community.
“It shouldn’t happen in this day and age and it’s a shame that these things still occur,” said Locke.
Anyone who has information or home camera footage is encouraged to contact the Swampscott Police Department at 781-595-1111.
