Teen Charged With Spray Painting Anti-Semitic Graffiti: Cops

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY — A Remsenburg teen has been charged with spray painting anti-Semitic graffiti at Westhampton Beach High School, police said.

Suffolk County Police hate crimes unit detectives arrested Christian Hinck, 17, on Tuesday at 3 p.m. on Lilac Road in Westhampton Beach, police said.

Hinck broke a window and spray painted racial graffiti, including swastikas and phallic symbols on the walls, sidewalks and windows of the high school, located on Lilac Road in Westhampton Beach, on April 6, police said.

After a thorough investigation by the Suffolk County Police Hate Crimes Unit and the Westhampton Beach Village Police Department, detectives arrested Hinck and charged him with first degree aggravated harassment, third degree criminal mischief, and making graffiti, police said.

The incident during which graffiti and property damage occurred at Westhampton Beach High School took place between 1:50 a.m. and 2 a.m. Friday morning, police said.

Swastikas and other vulgar messages, including the words "Hitler Youth", were spray painted onto the school — and a chunk of concrete was thrown through a window, police said.

No entry was made into the school, police said.

Westhampton Beach Union Free School District Superintendent Michael Radday issued a statement: "This morning, our security staff discovered that a disturbing act of vandalism had occurred at the Westhampton Beach High School overnight," he said. "Graffiti was painted on and around the school building, some of which targeted our high school administrators and some of which was anti-Semitic in nature."

He added that the window was also broken along the front of the school.

"District officials contacted the police as soon as the vandalism was discovered, and we are fully cooperating with the ongoing law enforcement investigation. This hateful act is not representative of our school or community and will not be tolerated," Radday said.

A criminal charge is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.