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Posted: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Oakwood hate crime investigation continues

By Terry Morris

Staff Writer

OAKWOOD —

No arrest has been made and no primary suspect has been identified in connection with two recent incidents of property damage at the Ridgeway Road home of a Jewish family, police reported Wednesday.

Swastikas and the words “Go away Jew” were painted on the house and garage. Arson was attempted while the home was occupied.

The incidents were discovered on the mornings of Feb. 18 and March 8.

“We’re working on a number of leads and will continue to do so until this is solved,” said Oakwood Public Safety director Alex Bebris.

“We don’t believe an organized group is responsible. We don’t believe this is part of a coordinated attack on any group or those of a particular religion, which is not to say that this family’s religion was not among the reasons why they were singled out,” he said. “We think it was directed at one of them specifically.”

The Dayton office of the FBI has joined the investigation to determine if a hate crime has been committed.

“When fire is involved with an occupied dwelling, it certainly rises to the level of a felony,” Bebris said.

“We don’t want to compromise the investigation at this point by sharing too much information. At the same time, we don’t want the community to think we aren’t doing anything about it. We are taking this very seriously. We have have people devoted exclusively to this case.”

Bebris said he believes that “the person or persons who are responsible have talked or boasted about this to a friend or acquaintance. If anyone has heard anything or knows anything, no matter how small, we’re asking them to contact Capt. Mike Jones” at (937) 298-2122.

 
 

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