Reward Offered for Info on Charles County Hate Crimes

CHARLES COUNTY - 2/12/2009

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office and Charles County Crime Solvers are offering a reward for information that leads to an arrest in a series of hate crimes.

On Feb. 10 about 6:30 a.m., Sheriff’s officers responded to Smith Chapel at 7750 Poorhouse Road in Pisgah after a passerby reported seeing spray paint on the church. Officers responded and discovered racial slurs had been spray painted on the building. Further investigation revealed classroom trailers at Mount Hope Nanjemoy Elementary School at 9275 Ironsides Road, the Calvert Wood Recycling Center sign at 6585 Ripley Road and a stop sign at Annapolis Woods Road and Poorhouse Road had also been vandalized with racially offensive graffiti and swastikas.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the vandalisms as hate crimes. Sheriff Rex W. Coffey has announced a $5,000 reward for information that leads to an arrest or indictment in addition to the $1,000 reward being offered by Charles County Crime Solvers.

The Sheriff’s Office and Crime Solvers are also offering rewards in the same amounts for information about another hate crime that occurred earlier this month. On Feb. 3 at 6:55 a.m., officers responded to Gale Bailey Elementary School at 4740 Pisgah Marbury Road in Marbury after an employee discovered racial slurs spray painted on the front of the school.

At 7:15 a.m., officers responded to Henry E. Lackey High School at 3000 Chicamuxen Road in Indian Head after more racially offensive graffiti was discovered spray painted on the back of a classroom trailer. Officers investigating these incidents believed the crime occurred overnight and that the same suspect may be responsible for both crimes. It is unclear whether the same suspect is also responsible for the crimes discovered today, but detectives are investigating a possible connection.

Anyone with information about any of these hate crimes is asked to call Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS. Students with information are encouraged to use the Crime Solvers tip boxes inside their school. All callers remain anonymous.