Teen Arrested Following Nazi Graffiti On Montco School: Police

UPPER MORELAND, PA — A teenager has been arrested after a Montgomery County elementary school was vandalized with a swastika and other hate speech last week, authorities said.

The suspect has been identified only as an 18-year-old Upper Moreland resident. It's not yet clear if he is a local high school student.

"The Upper Moreland Police Department wishes to thank the Upper Moreland Township School District for their assistance during the investigation and the community for their help in identifying the offender," police said in a statement.

At least one other suspect is still being sought.

The incident occurred at Upper Moreland Elementary School, located on Byberry Road on Saturday, March 8 at around 11:50 p.m.

Police said that a red sedan carrying two suspects sped into the parking lot and to the back of the school.

The pair got out and proceeded to cover parts of the building and playground equipment with various vulgar words and symbols, including swastikas, authorities said.

The suspects were on scene for about 20 minutes before surveillance footage captures the vehicle leaving the scene. The surveillance clip can be viewed online here.

The incident drew swift backlash from local leaders. State Sen. Maria Collett called it hate speech and an attack on the school

"There is right, and there is wrong," she siad. "Let us be unequivocal: support for Nazism has been, is today, and will forever be wrong and fundamentally anti-American."

It was one of two incidents involving the Nazi symbol in recent days in Montgomery County, after a flag was flown over a Lower Frederick home.

The teen arrested this week was charged with institutional vandalism, criminal mischief, defiant trespass, simple trespass, and possession of an instrument of crime.

If you have any information on the incident, email Detective Davido at mdavido@uppermoreland.org or call 215-657-4700.