Bexley police are investigating several acts of vandalism that occurred at homes, including the placement of swastika stickers on private property.
Bexley police Chief Gary Lewis told The Dispatch that police believe the property damage happened on or around Oct. 18, and they began receiving reports about property damage and swastikas on Oct. 19. It was not immediately clear what houses on what streets were vandalized, but Lewis did say there were multiple homes that were targeted.
Mayor Michael Price,who recently assumed the helm as the city's mayor, took to Facebook to condemn the swastika stickers and called it "an act that is far more shocking and threatening than mere vandalism."
"The swastika represents a regime founded in bigotry and violence,
and including this symbol is a hateful and threatening tactic that will not be tolerated in Bexley," Price said in the Facebook post. He also called on Bexley's neighbors to look out for one another and to "treat each other with dignity and kindness."
The Dispatch left a phone message for Price the night of Oct. 20 seeking further comment.
Chief Lewis said police are working with residents who were impacted and asked anyone who may have Ring doorbell camera footage to contact police. The vandalism, he said, also involved some election signs.
"There is no tolerance for hate or antisemitic imagery," Lewis said. "No matter what community, but especially one that has a high population of Jewish residents – we can't tolerate that." Lewis also mentioned that other communities have been targeted with "images of hate," such as Clintonville and Worthington, where leaflets and flyers containing KKK imagery were left in the road.
Anyone with information about the incidents is urged to contact the Bexley police non-emergency line at 614-559-4444.
Reporter Shahid Meighan can be reached at smeighan@dispatch.com, at ShahidMeighan on X, and at shahidthereporter.dispatch.com on Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bexley police investigating cases of swastika flyers, vandalism
