MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested a man accused of drawing several swastikas in Miami Beach.
Miami Beach Police arrested and charged Sean Kenna with seven counts of felony criminal mischief, Wednesday night.
Police said the charges will be reviewed by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s office for hate crime enhancements.
NO PLACE FOR HATE: MBPD has just arrested and charged Sean Kenna with 7 counts of felony Criminal Mischief. He has been linked to the scrawling of several swastikas around Miami Beach. Next, the charges will be reviewed by @KathyFndzRundle for Hate Crime enhancements. pic.twitter.com/AWdHMnsxd9
— Miami Beach Police (@MiamiBeachPD) March 21, 2019
“We are aware of arrest made re swastika scrolls [sic] discovered around Miami Beach. As is our procedure when there is allegation that crime has been committed as a result of hate, my Hate Crimes Unit will look into the allegations & make determination,” Miami-Dade County State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a tweet.
The 45-year-old is linked to several swastika symbols that were drawn in Miami Beach, police said.
Officials said the swastikas were found near multiple synagogues and at the home of a Jewish family.
Police said after stepping up surveillance, they were able to catch Kenna in the act twice near the 2900 block of Flamingo Drive.
In some instances, the word “death” was written. In another, the words “kill the Jews.”
Neighbors in the area called the arrest a relief.
“It’s horrible, but I’m glad they got him,” Yoslin Perryman said.
“It’s very sad because Miami Beach is a nice place,” Sandra Eras added.
Others were trying to figure out what may have triggered the man to do the alleged actions.
“It could be maybe he had a bad run-in with someone Jewish, and he associates all Jews with something bad,” said Dov Gurewitz, who is visiting from Chicago. “It could be a lack of education. It could be a lot of things. Honestly, a lot of times it’s either mental illness or just not being educated.”
We are aware of arrest made @MiamiBeachPD re swastika scrolls discovered around @MiamiBeachNews As is our procedure when there is allegation that crime has been committed as a result of hate, my Hate Crimes Unit will look into the allegations & make determination. #NoPlaceForHate
— Kathy Rundle (@KathyFndzRundle) March 21, 2019
Kenna has been taken to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where he was initially granted a $35,000 bond.
The bond has since been increased to $120,000 and if he is released, he’ll be ordered to wear a GPS monitor and remain on house arrest.
Kenna was also ordered to stay away from portions of the beach between 30th and 63rd Streets from the ocean all the way to Biscayne Bay.
7News was there when officers brought him in but not before he maintained his innocence.
A 7News reporter asked if he was the person behind the swastikas.
“No. I didn’t!” Kenna shouted back.
According to police, he has since confessed to the charges.
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