(JTA) — A former New York policeman was arrested for allegedly spray-painting anti-Semitic graffiti in an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Brooklyn.
Michael Setiawan, 36, was arrested Sunday for the vandalism spree the previous night throughout Borough Park, New York media reported.
The anti-Semitic graffiti was spray-painted in red on a school building and on 20 private residences and cars. A surveillance camera at the school showed Setiawan spray-painting on the school’s door; hate graffiti was found there.
Setiawan was charged with criminal mischief and aggravated harassment, both as hate crimes, the local NBC television affiliate reported.
“It is unconscionable that someone would spray such hateful graffiti across our community — the crime is only more appalling that it was done on the holiest day of our week,” said Councilman David Greenfield, who represents the area, according to the New York Post.
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