A man was arrested last week for allegedly spray-painting “swastika-like tails” in multiple parts of Fairfield, which police said stemmed from his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
John Kuhn, 68, of Bridgeport turned himself in last Thursday in connection with a warrant out for his arrest in a series of antisemitic vandalisms that police investigated as hate crimes, according to Sgt. Jenna Wellington of the Fairfield Police Department.
Wellington said police have been investigating a number of vandalism complaints throughout August in which someone had defaced the Star of David with graffiti, which was made to resemble a swastika. The graffiti was estimated to have caused about $3,000 in damages.
“Similar incidents were also reported in neighboring communities as well,” Wellington said in a statement.
According to Wellington, Kuhn was charged following a “comprehensive investigation” conducted by Fairfield detectives. During interviews, Wellington said, police learned that Kuhn’s alleged actions were “motivated by current events between Israel and Palestine.”
Kuhn faces three counts each of third-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias and second-degree criminal mischief and a single count of first-degree criminal mischief. He was initially held on $30,000 bond and was arraigned in Bridgeport Superior Court.
According to court records, Kuhn was released on a promise to appear and is due back in court on Oct. 28. He did not enter a plea, records indicate.
“The Fairfield Police Department strongly condemns these acts of hate and vandalism,” Wellington said. “Any display of racist, antisemitic, or discriminatory behavior has no place in our community.”
“We would like to thank members of the community who promptly reported these incidents and shared surveillance footage or information to assist in the investigation,” Wellington continued. “Community cooperation was instrumental in bringing this case to a successful resolution.”
