Police have arrested a self-admitted Neo-Nazi in a recent series of hate-based incidents in Montgomery County, Md..
Ian Jacob Baron, 23, was arrested and charged Tuesday.
On July 26, he allegedly vandalized the B'Nai Shalom Synagogue at 18401 Burtfield Drive in Olney with anti-Semitic graffiti, police said. Swastikas were spray-painted across the entire building and sidewalk and German references to the Holocaust were found on lamp posts in the parking lot.
"We are relieved that the police have apprehended a suspect and charged him," read a statement on the website of B'Nai Shalom. "We have and will continue to work closely with law enforcement to see that this matter reaches a conclusion within the justice system."
The Washington Post reported police had run-in's with Baron before the incident. According to an affidavit that sets out the police’s version of the case, Baron told officers in the past, that "he identifies himself as a Neo-Nazi and that he is active in the movement."
The affidavit also states Baron became a suspect following a conversation he had with a Montgomery County police officer in an Olney McDonald's. The court documents allege the officer approached Baron in the McDonald's and stated he wanted to speak with him.
"Ofc. Bachofsky asked Baron what he knew about the incident," according to the affidavit. "Baron stated 'he did not do it, but he could see why people thought he did.’ Baron stated that he was visiting his parents the night the vandalism happened [in] the neighborhood behind B’Nai Shalom.
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"Baron stated he was at B’Nai Shalom after the incident," the affidavit continued. "Baron stated he walked through the area on his way to get something to eat. Baron stated that his fingerprints would be on the cans used to spray-paint B’Nai Shalom. Baron stated he picked up some of the cans but that he threw the cans down when he realized what they were used for."
Baron also is charged with defacing the mailboxes at two homes in the 18500 block of Rolling Acres Way in Olney.
Police said he's charged with malicious destruction of property over $500, two counts of malicious destruction of property under $500, one count of race/religious property damage and one count of defacing religious property.
Baron is being held at the Montgomery County detention center on $5,000 bond.
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