9 Swastikas Spray-Painted At Monmouth County Park: Police

HOWELL, NJ — Howell Township police are investigating after a resident found swastikas spray-painted there Monday, police said.

The swastikas, at Echo Lake Park on Maxim Southard Road, were reported Monday morning, Detective Sgt. Christian Antunez said.

The detective bureau found nine swastikas spray-painted in white near the horseshoe pits on the backboards and benches, he said. The horseshoes area is about 300 feet from the road and parking lot, making the vandalism partially visible but hard to distinguish, he said

There also was random, non-distinct spray painting on the floor of the gazebo, he said.

It appears the vandalism happened sometime within the past week at the park, which attracts many people every day and is often visited by members of the Jewish community, Antunez said.

It is the second incident locally involving swastikas spray-painted at a park. On Thursday, swastikas were found spray-painted at a Lakewood park that is across the street from a yeshiva and on the doors of a building that hosts a camp for Jewish teens.

Howell Police Chief Andrew Kudrick said the department takes bias matters very seriously and a thorough investigation is underway.

Anyone who may have any information about the person or people responsible should contact Antunez, either by calling him at 732-938-4575, ext. 2883, or by e-mail at cantunez@howellpolice.org.

The Howell Township Department of Public Works will be painting over the vandalism Monday, Antunez said.

Photo of swastikas spray-painted on horseshoe pit backboards in Howell, via Howell Township Police