Nassau County Police Department Third Squad detectives are investigating a graffiti spree on late Friday night and early Saturday afternoon in Mineola that included spray-painted swastikas and other offensive symbols.
Swastikas, the number 666 – interpreted as a sign of the anti-Christ among Christians – and a racist term were spray painted in red on the walls of Chaminade High School at 340 Jackson Avenue. A bus owned by the school was also defaced.
The date 03/09/88-05/02/11 and swastikas were also found in nearby Memorial Park located at 155 Washington Avenue, police said.
Police said a sign at the northeast corner of Roslyn Road and Old Country Road had an orange swastika spray painted on it and the door of an apartment building at 135 Third Ave. was spray-painted with a swastika in orange and red.
Mineola Mayor Scott Strauss said he has been in contact with the Nassau County Police 3rd Precinct commanders about the incidents.
“I’m shocked an outraged. I can’t believe that in this day and age, someone is still thinking this way,” Strauss said. “We’re a community of families and to have this happen is just atrocious.”
Orange and red swastikas were also spray painted on the walls of Yamaha/Suzuki of Mineola at 336-344 West Jericho Turnpike, according to police, who said the Nazi symbol was also spray painted on several vehicles at different locations around the village.
On Albertson Place, a 1999 Dodge van was discovered with an orange swastika spray painted on it. A 2009 BMW on Third Street was found spray painted with a swastika.
On Marcellus Road, a phallic symbol and a symbol resembling a pentagram were found spray painted in orange and red on a 2000 Chevrolet.
A trailer generator at 60 Main Street had swastikas and the word “Outlaw” spray painted on it in orange. The word “Outlaws” was found spray painted on the wall of 250 Harrison Ave. and appeared a third time, spray painted in orange on the wall of Tilden Brakes at 61 Willis Avenue.
Strauss took issue with a local TV news report over the weekend suggesting that “Outlaws” suggested the involvement of a motorcycle gang with that moniker.
“There has been no gang activity in Mineola,” Strauss said.
Police said the investigation into the graffiti incidents is ongoing. Detectives ask anyone with information regarding these crimes to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-244-TIPS. All callers will remain anonymous.
