Man Arrested In Synagogue Vandalism Hate Crime Case: Sarasota Police

SARASOTA, FL — Officers have arrested a 30-year-old Sarasota man in connection with vandalism at a downtown synagogue earlier this week, authorities said.

Brayton Laschinger was charged with criminal mischief of a religious building as a hate crime, a felony, Sarasota police said in a news release.

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The vandalism happened on Wednesday, around 6 a.m., at a synagogue on Cocoanut Avenue.

Though police haven't identified the synagogue, an internet search shows that the only synagogue located in that area is Chabad of Downtown SRQ at 332 Cocoanut Ave.

Police said surveillance footage showed Laschinger with a blue towel covering his head and face as he threw a brick through the front window.

Laschinger told detectives that he had seen propaganda on social media that morning and it made him angry. He then admitted throwing the brick at the synagogue window because it was a Jewish place of worship.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sarasota Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 941-263-6070 or Sarasota Crime Stoppers at 941-366-TIPS (8477).

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