Two sisters walking along the Millbury, Massachusetts, High School track Monday morning stumbled upon a shocking sight. They were faced with a swastika made of cinder blocks and immediately called police.
"I'm at the high school track and I just got to let you guys know somebody took a bunch of cinder blocks and had made a swastika and put it in the middle of the track," the female caller said.
Police worked with school officials, analyzing a grainy surveillance video, in an effort to track down the suspects at about 12:30 a.m.
They believe he suspects to be three males and one female.
"You can see them walking the high school track, and the cinder blocks were located near a baseball dugout, it is my understanding that these blocks were used to secure tarps on the baseball field diamond," said Millbury Police Lt. Donald Desorcy.
Lt. Desorcy says the suspects began picking up the cinder blocks and arranging them on the track nearby.
"You can see them placing them and before they left, one individual you can see him bending over and taking two photographs of the swastika with his cell phone," said Lt. Desorcy.
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Residents we spoke to were disgusted that the hate-filled symbol was displayed in their town.
"I was shocked, shocked," said resident Ann Campbell.
Robert Campbell added, "Hopefully it's just some kid who's not too bright."
"I think it's awful, it's a small town, I think that there's other ways you can get your point across he right way versus doing something that's as degrading as that is," Millbury High School alumna Donna Sinkus said.
The Anti-Defamation League of New England also spoke out on the act, releasing the following statement:
“Wherever they appear, expressions of hatred intimidate and impact the community. It is particularly disturbing that this act was designed to publicly communicate a message of hatred. We commend the Millbury Police Department for their commitment to swiftly investigate this act of hatred and make it clear that it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Police say the teens could face a misdemeanor or felony charge of willful destruction of property, among other charges, depending on the nature of the crime.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 508-865-3521.
