The swastika scrawled outside the Rego Park Jewish Center (Photo courtesy of Queens Shmira and GMaps)
April 16, 2021 By Christian Murray
The police have arrested a Forest Hills man who allegedly scrawled a swastika next to a Rego Park synagogue in February.
Ramtin Rabenou, 41, a resident of the Parker Towers complex at 104-20 Queens Blvd., allegedly drew the swastika with a black marker across a “public property” sign affixed to steps leading up to the Rego Park Jewish Center.
The graffiti was discovered on the morning of Wednesday, Feb. 17, and reported to police.
The Jewish center, located at 97-30 Queens Blvd., is just a short walk from Rabenou’s Parker Towers apartment.
Rabenou has been charged with aggravated harassment in the first degree. There was no charge pertaining to a bias crime, although the investigation is still ongoing.
Queens Shmira, a volunteer group, reported the crime to police after a resident called its hotline number. The group then worked with police from the 112th Precinct that made the arrest.
Elected officials condemned the hateful graffiti at the time and noted that it is part of a recent wave of racist activity throughout Queens.
The swastika scrawled outside the Rego Park Jewish Center in February (Photo courtesy of Queens Shmira)
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