Woman, 65, Vandalized Elementary School, Store: Fairfield Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — A 65-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with political graffiti that was recently found at a Fairfield elementary school and a nearby store, according to police.

Police put out a call for help on Jan. 13 after a McKinley Elementary School employee reported finding vandalism on a sidewalk outside the school at 60 Thompson St.

Officers found the words "United States of China" spray-painted on the sidewalk and on a snow mound in the back of the school parking lot, police said. The phrase "Biden For Socialism" had also been painted on a sidewalk near the school but was removed by school district employees before officers arrived, according to police.

Police received several tips from the public and found that Emily Winters defaced the exterior walls of TJ Maxx, the foundation of the Tunxis Hill Corner Plaza and the driveway of McKinley School on the night of Jan. 12, according to Lt. Antonio Granata.

Winters, of Pine Tree Lane in Fairfield, confessed to the vandalism when interviewed by detectives, Granata said. She turned herself in at Fairfield Police Headquarters on Wednesday after an arrest warrant was issued, according to Granata.

Winters was charged with criminal mischief and released on a promise to appear in court on Feb. 12.

“We’d like to thank the residents of Fairfield, our colleagues in the media, as well as social media groups for their assistance with identifying the person responsible,” police said in a statement. “It’s our continued partnership with our community that allows the successful resolution in many of our cases.”

See also: Messages Of Unity Replace Graffiti Outside McKinley School