Jewish Institutions in Albuquerque Vandalized
A Jewish community center and synagogue in Albuquerque are assessing damage after a man smashed their front doors with a metal object. Both organizations said they do not know whether the incidents are connected and are describing them as vandalism, though a criminal complaint suggests investigators view the case more seriously.
According to the complaint, an employee of Congregation Albert called police at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday. Senior Rabbi Celia Surget said the incident happened as staff were wrapping up their workday.
“We were getting ready to wind down our day when an individual approached our building and smashed some of the panels on our front door and then left,” Surget said. She asked that the synagogue exterior and boarded-up doors not be shown.
The complaint identifies the suspect as Rex Crofton. Police say that about 10 minutes later, security cameras captured Crofton carrying out the same actions at the Jewish Community Center on Wyoming Boulevard.
JCC official Ron Winger said the suspect did not gain access to the building.
“He banged on the first set of doors. Those doors opened. He then banged on the second set of doors. He did not get in the facility,” Winger said.
The criminal complaint says there is probable cause to charge Crofton with criminal damage to property, desecration of a church, and hate crimes.
The FBI has been contacted and said only that it is actively investigating the incident.
