Jewish Cemetery In Melrose Vandalized, 3 Suspects Sought

MELROSE, MA — The hunt is on for three suspects who were seen overnight tipping over headstones at a Jewish cemetery, officials said. The Netherlands Cemetery on Linwood Ave. had six headstones tipped over early in the morning and a witness told police he saw what appeared to be three teenagers knocking them over.

Melrose Police are searching for the three suspects, Mayor Robert J. Dolan, Police Chief Michael L. Lyle, and Human Rights Commission Director Adam LaFrance said in a statement. "I am deeply saddened and outraged by this vandalism and potential hate crime,” Dolan said.

Police were dispatched to the Netherlands Cemetery Association Burial Ground around 3:15 a.m. for a report of young males vandalizing tombstones. A witness told police he saw what he said were three likely teenage boys kicking over tombstones and fleeing. (Subscribe to Melrose Patch and like us on Facebook for more news and alerts.)

One suspect is a slender white male between 5 feet 7 inches and 5-8 wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt and black backpack. Another suspect is a slender black male, the same height, wearing a gray-hooded sweatshirt and carrying a skateboard. Those two allegedly ran down Linwood Ave. toward Malvern St.

A third suspect is a white male, with a heavy build, wearing a black t-shirt and eyeglasses.

The Netherlands Cemetery, the third-oldest Jewish cemetery in Massachusetts, was formerly known as the Netherlands Cemetery Association and Roxbury Mutual Society Burial Ground. It contains about 415 interments. The cemetery was established in 1859 by some Dutch Jews living around the area. The group formed the Netherlands Cemetery Association and opened the Netherlands Cemetery for its members.

"To go to a sacred place in the city and act with such disrespect is disgraceful and these three suspects should be ashamed of themselves," Lyle said.

"Melrose is one community, open to all," LaFrance said. "The Melrose Human Rights Commission and the City of Melrose denounce the recent desecration of tombstones at the Jewish cemetery on Linwood Avenue and stand firmly with our Jewish family, friends and neighbors against this reprehensible behavior."

"Cemeteries are sacred grounds," Dolan said. "Any malicious destruction is deeply saddening and must be given the full attention of law enforcement to bring the individuals responsible to account for this horrible act. On behalf of the citizens of Melrose, we offer our deepest sympathies to the Netherlands Cemetery Association, the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts and the individual families affected by this cowardly act."

A pane of glass was shattered at The New England Holocaust Memorial near Faneuil Hall in June. Police arrested a 21-year-old Roxbury man in connection to the incident.

Anyone with information can call Melrose Police at 781-665-1212 or the Human Rights Commission’s hotline at 781-979-4140. You can submit anonymous tips through the police department’s tip line: Text MELROSE to TIP411 (847411).

Photos courtesy of Melrose Police