On June 28, Suffolk County Police arrested a Huntington man for spray painting a political sign with a swastika. A swastika, “187,” and the word “Gambino,” were found painted onto a Lee Zeldin campaign sign, located on the corner of West Pulaski Road and Oakwood Road in Huntington Station, on June 26 at approximately 10:05 a.m.
After an investigation, Hate Crimes Unit detectives arrested Vincent J. Mckie outside his home on Oakwood Road, Huntington on June 28 at 12:25 p.m.. Mckie, 41, was charged with Aggravated Harassment 1st Degree, a hate crime, and Criminal Mischief 4th Degree. He will be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.
The Zeldin campaign, which won a victory in the GOP primary for Governor on the same night, said of the arrest, “In the US, we settle our scores at the ballot box, & this type of raw hate must never have any home in NY or the US. I’m thankful for the Suffolk County PD as they work to identify the perpetrators. We won’t let this vandalism deter us from our rescue mission to save our state.”
Congressman Zeldin said, “I thank Suffolk County Police Department – especially their top-notch Hate Crimes Unit – for making a swift arrest in this case. Unfortunately, for so many New Yorkers – Asian-Americans, Sikh-Americans, Jewish Americans and many others – raw hate has become all too commonplace. We must continue to work together to crush this hate wherever it rears its ugly head.”
