Beverly Man Charged In Salem Anti-LGBTQIA+ Vandalism Rash: Police

SALEM, MA — A Beverly man was arrested and charged with multiple vandalism-related and hate crimes following a rash of anti-LGBTQIA+ incidents across the city last week.

Salem Police Chief Lucas Miller said Mohammed Saeed Rajab, 25, of Beverly was charged following a joint investigation with Beverly police into the vandalism on Sept. 13 in which the doors of the Tabernacle Congregational Church on Washington Street, the Pride flag at the Northeast Animal Shelter on Highland Avenue, a Pride flag at Lappin Park and several Pride-themed crosswalks were defaced with paint.

Rajab was charged with the destruction of a place of worship, hate crimes, and other charges related to vandalizing property.

"I am so proud of the hard work that my detectives did to resolve this case," Miller said. "We have made this investigation our highest priority.

"I realize that this arrest does not erase the harm caused by Mr. Rajab but I hope that it shows the commitment that the Salem Police Department has to our friends, our neighbors, and our colleagues in the LGBTQ community."

Rajab pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in Salem District Court on Wednesday.

Judge Randy Chapman ordered Rajab to be held on $2,500 bail, with a GPS curfew, to stay out of Salem, ordered that he is prohibited from possessing firearms or dangerous weapons, and said that he must surrender his passport.

Rajab was represented by Attorney Sean Wynne.

He is next due in court on October 11th for a pretrial hearing.

Salem Public Schools took steps to provide support services for its LGBTQIA+ students and staff — including making counselors available — after police said the vandalism incidents targeting Pride symbols were found across the city.

Salem Mayor and School Committee Chair Dominick Pangallo, Chief Miller and U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton all issued statements last week condemning the vandalism.

Senior Pastor Rev. Joe Amico of the Tabernacle Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, issued a statement to Patch citing the church's mission statement proclaiming: "Our faith calls us to speak up in the face of prejudice, injustice and exclusion, and to express in a word and deed our hope for justice and inclusion for humanity."

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)