The man University of Maryland Police identified and charged with malicious destruction of property after a swastika was spray-painted on a campus trash cart last month is a former employee at this university.
Police issued Ronald Alford, 52, of Hyattsville, a criminal summons for one count of malicious destruction of property and one count of disturbing the operations of a school, according to a news release. He was served the summons on Oct. 5 and issued a denial of access to the campus.
On Sept. 27 at about 10:40 p.m., University Police responded to Hagerstown Hall for a hate bias incident, the release said. A swastika was found on a trash cart at about 1 p.m. that afternoon.
Alford is no longer an employee at this university, spokeswoman Jessica Jennings wrote in a statement.
“Diversity and inclusion are core values of our institution, and these values will and must be upheld,” the statement read. “We are currently leading forward a campus-wide action plan to combat hate and create a safer campus for all.”
This university has created a diversity task force to review policies with the goal of making the campus more inclusive and is developing a rapid-response team for hate bias incidents. An annual report on hate bias incidents will also be compiled.
University Police are currently investigating three hate bias incidents that occurred in the men’s bathroom of the North Campus Dining Hall between Sept. 28 and Oct. 9. In each incident, “offensive drawings and/or language” were found in the bathroom, according to a release. One of the incidents included a swastika drawn on the bathroom wall. Police are offering a $2,000 reward for information that will lead to identifying the perpetrator.
Police also responded to a swastika and offensive phrase found on a balcony railing on the fifth floor of the plant sciences building in September.
