Man Claiming To Be Kennedy Relative Vandalizes Compound: Police

HYANNIS PORT, MA — A New York man who claimed he was a relative of the Kennedy family was arrested at the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port Tuesday after police said he vandalized the property.

Anthony Putnam, 32, of Saratoga Springs, NY, was charged with vandalizing property.

Barnstable police said they were called to the Kennedy compound around 10:30 p.m. Police were told there was a suspicious vehicle at Fortes Beach, which belonged to Putnam. The caller told officers they had several interactions with Putnam since June, and on several occasions, he claimed to be a related to the Kennedy family, police said.

The caller told officers that on Thanksgiving morning, compound staff saw Putnam on the front porch. And when they asked him to leave, Putnam left a box which he said contained DNA evidence he was part of the family, police said.

Police said when officers arrived on the Kennedy property Tuesday, they saw Putnam spray-painting the driveway. The red spray paint read, "I am (retracted, retracted) Kennedy's grandson," police said.

When officers called to Putnam, he said "I am family," police said. Police said Putnam rambled on about being a Kennedy and how the family won't accept him.

Police arrested Putnam and towed his car from the beach parking lot. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.