Ramapo Police Investigating After Pool Found Vandalized At Camp Shalom
CHESTNUT RIDGE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Ramapo police are investigating after a large above ground pool was found vandalized at a day camp for Orthodox Jewish children.
Around 8:45 a.m. Sunday, police got a call that the vinyl sides of the pool at Camp Shalom had been slashed several times, authorities said.
There was no water in the pool except for a few inches of rain water at the time of the incident. Police said it appears the damage happened sometime between 6 p.m. Saturday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday.
The camp's attorney, Ryan Karben, said the camp is leasing the space from Chestnut Ridge Middle School for the summer and said some in the neighborhood have expressed discomfort with camp operating at the school.
Ramapo Police Investigating After Pool Found Vandalized At Camp Shalom
"Neighbors of the camp have cursed at workers who were doing work at the campsite, there have been calls to the police department simply because the camp has been operating and commenters on social media have attacked the camp for being under Orthodox Jewish supervision," he said.
He said he wants police to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime.
"When you have this kind of divisive rhetoric out there, it may lead people to take things in their own hands," he said.
Karben said the pool was one of four temporary pools on the site for the kids to use during the summer.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Town of Ramapo Police at (845) 357-2400.
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