A man has been arrested in connection with vandalism in Montgomery neighborhood that included racial slurs.
Stephen Hickey, 34, was taken into custody Tuesday on felony charge of first-degree criminal mischief, said Montgomery police Maj. Saba Coleman.
Hickey was arrested by the Special Operation Teams and was undergoing booking into the Montgomery County Detention Facility.
“MPD worked diligently through teamwork to identify and capture Hickey, who was responsible for the racial slurs and hate insignias that left the community scarred and on edge,’’ Coleman said.
The major said the department is still working with the FBI on potential federal hate crime charges.
Montgomery police were dispatched at 6:40 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, to the 4300 block of Richardson Road, which is in Dannelly Pines community. Officers responded on a report of damage to property and found damage that included a Nazi swastika painted on a house, and racial slurs painted on vehicles.
State Rep. Phillip Ensler shared photos of some of the damage on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“I am enraged by the white supremacist, racist images and words spray painted on personal, private property of Black residents in the Dannelly Pines area,’’ wrote Ensler, who in November became the first Jewish candidate to win a seat in Montgomery in nearly 50 years.
Coleman did not release any additional information about Hickey or his alleged crimes.
“We want to thank the public for their patience and cooperation in this matter,’’ Coleman said.
“This arrest demonstrates a commitment the Montgomery Police Department has in making the City of Montgomery a safe place to live, work and visit.”