Islip Man Painted 'Large Swastika' On Centre Island Stop Sign: PD

Oyster Bay NY

11 February, 2021

7:53 PM

Description

CENTRE ISLAND, NY — An Islip man spray-painted a large blue swastika on a stop sign in Centre Island in January, Nassau County police said Thursday. Police said that at about 1:30 a.m. on Jan. 31, Oyster Bay constables "discovered what appeared to be a large swastika spray-painted" in blue on a stop sign "on a roadway" and notified the Centre Island Police Department. The case was forwarded to Nassau police detectives, and it was "considered a bias incident," police said. After a "thorough investigation" detectives arrested Ivan Martinez, 19, on a charge of first-degree aggravated harassment, a felony, police said. He was additionally charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief and making graffiti, which are both misdemeanors, police said. Martinez was issued an appearance ticket for First District Court in Hempstead on May 17.