ROME, N.Y. – Rome police have arrested a hate crime suspect after a Black woman found hateful graffiti on a moving truck parked outside her home on First Street earlier this month.
Joya Stuckman called police after finding swastikas and racially derogatory language spray-painted on a U-Haul she was using on Sept. 5.
After an investigation, Rome police arrested 40-year-old Donald W. DeCarolis, also of First Street in Rome, on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
DeCarolis is charged with:
- First-degree aggravated harassment
- Fourth-degree criminal mischief (with a hate crime designation)
- Fourth-degree criminal mischief (without a hate crime designation)
- Making graffiti
- Fourth-degree criminal tampering
DeCarolis was arraigned in Rome City Court and released on his own recognizance.
Mayor Jacqueline Izzo and Rome Police Chief Kevin Beach released the following joint statement regarding this arrest:
"We would like to thank the members of the Rome Police Department for their tireless effort in coming to a successful resolution of this heinous hate crime. The City of Rome and our Police Department do not, and will not tolerate this type of hateful activity in our City. We will devote all resources at our disposal to identify, arrest, and prosecute offenders to the fullest extent of the law."
