CARMEL, NY — A 16-year-old accused of scratching a swastika and the words “Adolf Hitler” into the tennis courts at Carmel High School faces a felony charge, Sheriff Kevin J. McConville announced.
The crime was reported at 5 p.m. Sept. 20. School staff and students reported the antisemitic graffiti to the Sheriff’s Office.
An investigation was begun, which included interviews of students and staff and a review of video footage.
A suspect was identified, and on Oct. 20, a student at the school turned themselves in and was arrested for Aggravated Harassment in the First Degree, a Felony, and was issued an appearance ticket for Putnam County Family Court.
The Carmel school community has been grappling with issues of racism and antisemitism. Last year, after some students posted hateful TikTok videos pretending to be school and county officials, parents described a pattern of racial and ethnic harassment, The Journal News reported. Though one of the videos threatened to bring a machine gun to George Fischer Middle School, authorities said it didn’t amount to a terroristic threat, which is a crime.