Person Sought After Jewish Schools, Cars Vandalized in West L.A.
Posted 7:06 PM, December 18, 2019, by Kimberly Cheng and Catherine Park, Updated at 10:50PM, December 18, 2019
Los Angeles police are searching for the perpetrator after a series of vandalism incidents occurred throughout the West L.A. area over the weekend.
The first two incidents happened on Saturday, Dec. 14, and Sunday, Dec. 15, between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m., investigators said in a news release. The culprits spray-painted and vandalized numerous vehicles in the Beverlywood and Pico-Robertson communities.
Vandalism on Dec. 16, 2019. (Credit: LAPD)
Investigators also believe the vandalism could possibly be categorized as a hate crime after three Jewish Schools along the 1500 block of Mulholland Drive were spray-painted on Monday at about 9 p.m.
L.A. Jewish community leaders gathered together in a town hall on Wednesday to address the vandalism.
"The outside of the American Jewish University was vandalized, which is right next door to our school," Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback of the Stephen Wise Temple, said.
"There's so much hatred, there's so much anger in the world today and unfortunately, sometimes it's focused in all the wrong ways," Zweiback said.
Also, that same Monday between 9 p.m. and 11 p.m., several vehicles were spray-painted with similar graffiti in the Brentwood and Westwood areas, officials said.
In a separate case, a Pennsylvania man was arrested in connection with vandalism that occurred Saturday at the Nessah Synagogue, at 142 S. Rexford Drive in Beverly Hills.
Anton Nathaniel Redding, 24, of Millersville, Pennsylvania, was arrested after he fled to Hawaii, police said.
Detectives flew to Hawaii and arrested Redding in Kona on suspicion of vandalism of religious property and commercial burglary, with the assistance of the local authorities.
Charges are also being filed to include a hate crime, police said.
Redding was identified as the possible culprit on Dec. 17 after detectives reviewed surveillance video and forensic evidence.
He is in custody without bail, awaiting an extradition hearing to authorize his transfer back to California.
Officials did not confirm whether or not Redding's arrest was related to the other vandalism incidents that happened in West L.A.
Anyone with information on the incidents on Los Angeles can call 213-486-7220 or 800-222-8477.
Topics: beverly hills police department, Los Angeles Police Department, nessah synagogue
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