Boy Charged In Southampton Middle School, Bel Air Vandalism: HCSO

BEL AIR, MD — A 12-year-old boy in Bel Air was charged in connection with four cases of vandalism, including two at Southampton Middle School, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office. He was also charged in four separate cases by the Bel Air Police Department, officials said.

Vulgar images, profanity and political messages were spray-painted on campus Monday in the 1200 block of Moores Mill Road, officials said. Staff at Southampton Middle School notified the school resource officer, and the next day, authorities were called again because more graffiti with similar messages was spray-painted on the building.

The school resource officer identified a 12-year-old as the suspect, and the boy turned himself in to law enforcement afterward, according to the sheriff's office.

Investigators said the Harford County Sheriff's Office linked the boy to two additional cases of vandalism in their jurisdiction during the same two-day period. Both cases involved homes and Trump materials being spray-painted.

Deputies were called to the 800 block of East Broadway Tuesday after a homeowner discovered profanity spray-painted on his home and over the Trump sticker on his car, according to the sheriff's office. Three Trump signs had also been stolen from his yard Monday, the resident said, and he had replaced them before the graffiti appeared overnight.

In another case, officials said a Trump 2020 flag was damaged and a home spray-painted with profanity in the 1100 block of Malkus Way. That occurred between 1 and 7 a.m. Monday.

The 12-year-old was charged in the four cases, officials said Wednesday.

"For the cases we investigated, he was charged with multiple counts of malicious destruction of property and trespassing on school property," Cristie Hopkins, spokesperson for the Harford County Sheriff's Office, told Patch.

The Bel Air Police Department charged him with four cases of malicious destruction of property in connection with separate incident.

"Incidents like these lead to fear and anxiety in a community," the Harford County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. "It is an important reminder that while we enjoy free speech, that freedom does not extend to graffiti and vandalism of private property. The minute you do that, it becomes a crime."

Related: Boy Charged In Anti-Trump, BLM Graffiti Vandalism: Bel Air Police