The Metropolitan Police Department arrested Friday an individual in relation to dozens of swastikas and profane messages painted on the outside walls of Union Station in Washington, DC.
The suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Geraldo Pando who has no fixed address. He is also accused of spray painting hate symbols on some buildings at the 900 block of 5th Street, NW; 400 block of Massachusetts Avenue, NW; and 400 block of L Street, NW.
Pando is facing charges of “display of certain emblems and defacing private/public property,” according to police.
Swastikas found at Union Station; authorities investigating https://t.co/RK5Rzmsbwn
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In a statement released on Saturday, DC police thanked the United States Capitol Police (USCP) and the Amtrak Police for their assistance in the case.
Law enforcement officials investigating the incident believe the potential motivation behind it could be hate or bias. But the designation can be changed at any point throughout the investigation as more information is collected.
The offensive graffiti at Union Station was first reported Friday morning, a day after International Holocaust Remembrance Day.