Police Investigate Hate Crime Vandalism Incident in Bethesda

Montgomery County police are searching for suspects who vandalized a car and a police vehicle in the Woodhaven neighborhood with profanity, swastikas and anti-gay slurs, according to a news release issued by police Friday.

Police responded around 3:15 a.m. Sunday to the 6700 block of Melody Lane in Bethesda for a report of a vandalism, the release said. They discovered spray painted images of male genitalia and profanity on a car.

They also discovered a police K-9 vehicle that had been spray painted with explicit images, profanity, a swastika and anti-gay slurs, the release said.

Later that morning, police also discovered vandalism on a lightpost and a large rock in the 8200 block of Wahly Drive. The rock had been spray painted with a swastika, police said.

Anyone with information about the crimes is asked to call police at 301-657-0112, or email BIStips@montgomerycountymd.gov. A cash reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest in the case.