MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Two German tourists were arrested Monday after an anti-Semitic message and symbol were written on a “LGBTQIA+ bench” at Lummus Park in Miami Beach, authorities said.
According to the suspects’ arrest reports, the incident was reported just after 5:30 p.m. in the area of 12th Street and Ocean Drive.
A photo of the graffiti shows a swastika symbol and the message, “Adolf was here.”
Police said they reviewed the city’s cameras in the area and quickly identified the individuals responsible – Christoph Rehak, 58, and Gunther Manfred Jekschtat, 63.
According to their arrest reports, surveillance video shows Rehak asking a friend for a marker.
Rehak and Jekschtat then sat on the bench next to each other before Rehak began to write on the bench while Jekschtat blocked him with his body so he couldn’t be seen by others, the reports stated.
Police said they located both suspects at the Colony Hotel, on Ocean Drive, where four people were initially detained for questioning.
Police said both Rehak and Jekschtat admitted to their involvement in the incident, with Jekschtat saying his actions were meant to “defend his friend” and Rehak saying he wrote the message as a “joke.”
Both men were arrested on a criminal mischief charge.
As of Tuesday morning, both were being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $500 bond.
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