Police have charged a 28-year-old town resident with a hate crime for cutting down an Israeli flag flying at a home near the corner of Church Hill and Walnut Tree Hill roads, officials said.
Sarah Stofko, of Newtown, has been charged with third-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, a felony that carries a penalty of up to three years in prison, and third-degree criminal mischief, according to Lt. Scott Smith of the Newtown Police Department.
Smith said police were called to the home around 9 a.m. Thursday after a witness observed an Israeli flag that had been cut down lying on the ground. He said the responding officers located the flag on the ground and obtained evidence, including a vehicle description, tying Stofko to the crime.
Smith said Stofko was contacted by officers and voluntarily surrendered to authorities at the police department later that same day. After being processed, Smith said Stofko was released and given a court date of Dec. 21.
“Our police department has no tolerance for any crimes that have the potential to create fear and anxiety amongst members of our community,” Smith said. “Our patrol officers worked diligently to identify and arrest this individual and will continue to fulfill our mission statement by working together with the community to seek justice for all. We are grateful to members of the community for assisting in this investigation."