Suspect Arrested in Repeated Downtown Swastika Graffiti

A homeless man suspected of repeatedly defacing Downtown properties with swastikas this month was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 16.

Police say that Ryan James, 39, is the man captured on surveillance video on Dec. 13 drawing the Nazi symbol on a City Hall entrance pillar at Beekman Street and Park Row. According to police, he also: drew three swastikas on the wall of a construction site at 10 Maiden Lane on Dec. 3; spray painted multiple swastikas on the wall outside a CVS at 129 Fulton St. on Dec. 13; spray painted swastikas on the front of 67 Wall St, spray painted the symbol on the statue Charging Bull in front of 25 Broadway on Dec. 14. 

James was charged with five counts of criminal mischief as a hate crime and four counts of aggravated harassment.