Crime Solvers of Montgomery County is offering a $7,000 reward, donated by community organizations, for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of suspects involved in three August antisemitic vandalism incidents in Bethesda, county police said Thursday in a statement.
The first incident occurred Aug. 11, according to police. Officers responded to reports of antisemitic phrases spray painted on the parking lot at Bethesda Elementary School early that morning. The school at 7600 Arlington Road is home to a farmers market on Sunday mornings.
That day, Bethesda Elementary School Principal Lisa Seymour sent a letter to families explaining the school had been “defaced with politically charged statements.” The graffiti was removed by Bethesda Urban Partnership, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and volunteers, according to police.
Police classified the incident as a bias-related crime, saying at the time that officers were canvassing the area and reviewing surveillance footage to identify suspects.
Two days later, Congregation Beth El at 8215 Old Georgetown Road reported antisemitic graffiti on a sign and a Starbucks at 7700 Norfolk Ave. in downtown Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle neighborhood reported antisemitic graffiti on the coffee shop’s building.
According to an Aug. 13 letter from Congregation Beth El, a synagogue sign was vandalized with “graphic antisemitic, anti-Israel” graffiti.
Although the $7,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of suspects for the three specific incidents, the county also experienced several other bias-related acts of vandalism in August. This included a second round of sign vandalism at Congregation Beth El on Aug. 20, and antisemitic and anti-LGBTQ+ graffiti that was found at four county public schools. According to police, eight incidents of bias-related graffiti occurred from Aug. 11 to 20.
County police spokesperson Casandra Tressler Durham said police didn’t have information on which community organizations donated money for the reward. Crime Solvers of Montgomery County didn’t immediately respond to an emailed request for comment Thursday afternoon.
Anyone with information regarding the three Bethesda incidents can visit Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at www.crimesolversmcmd.org or call 1-866-411-8477.
— MoCo360’s Julie Rasicot and Elia Griffin contributed to this report
