Howard County police have charged four Glenelg High School students with hate crimes after school officials found racial, anti-semitic and anti-LGBTQ slurs spray-painted at the school this morning. One of the slurs targeted the school principal.
Three of the students, Seth Taylor, 18, of Mustang Path in Ellicott City; Tyler Curtiss, 18, of Rivercrest Court in Brookeville; and Joshua Shaffer, 18, of Watkins Way in Mt. Airy, were taken into custody at the school this morning. Matthew Lipp, 18, of Daisy Road in Woodbine was picked up by police at his home.
All four have been charged with multiple counts of “destruction of property based on race, color, religious belief, sexual orientation, or national origin,” which is a misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to three years in prison.
Upon finding the slurs this morning, Glenelg staff contacted the SRO, who responded with additional officers. They reviewed video from the exterior of the school and saw four people spray-painting at various locations. The SRO recognized the students and initiated an investigation, which resulted in the arrests. Officers also located paint cans in the woods nearby.
All four suspects are still in the booking process at the Howard County Detention Center.
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