Police Are Investigating a String Of Racist And Homophobic Vandalisms In Bethesda

BETHESDA, MD — Graffiti that read "White Pride," "LGBT Is Unnatural," and "No Commies" was found in Bethesda at Walter Johnson High School and nearby areas earlier this month, Montgomery County Police said.

Graffiti was first found on dumpsters outside of a grocery store on the 10000 block of Old Georgetown Road. Shortly after that was discovered — which was around 8 a.m. on Oct. 3 — officers were called to Walter Johnson High School for reports of more graffiti.

Bethesda Beat reported on the vandalism, and obtained an email sent from Walter Johnson Principal Jennifer Baker to the high school community.

“Defacing our school with graffiti is bad enough, but symbols of hate speech are harmful and unsettling for many in our community,” Baker wrote to the high school community, according to Bethesda Beat. “We are very mindful of how such actions may evoke fear and anger and we have worked quickly to cover the images.”

Bethesda Beat reported that Baker said any student involved with face disciplinary action, and that a spokesperson told them the high school does have surveillance cameras that could be helpful in identifying the suspect.

Police say that similar graffiti was found on a welcome sign of a church on the 10000 block of Old Georgetown Road, and at a bus stop at the intersection of Old Georgetown Road and Democracy Blvd.

More calls then came in for graffiti on the Bethesda Trolly Trail and another church in the 6000 block of Grosvenor Lane, police said.

A police investigator believes he has identified a potential suspect — a male with a slim to medium build, shown on surveillance video wearing a light-colored hat, dark red (possibly plaid) shirt or jacket, tan pants, brown boots, a headlamp and a backpack.

Police are asking anyone with information to call the 2nd District Patrol Investigations Unit at 240-773-6726.