Police arrest suspect for allegedly spray-painting swastikas in Norwich: What we know.

• A 40-year-old Norwich man was detained after reportedly spray-painting four swastikas throughout the city.
• Police identified the culprit based on surveillance footage and interviews.

Norwich Police have arrested a man for allegedly spray-painting four swastikas in Norwich last month. Detectives and patrol officers from the Norwich Police Department arrested David Dionne, 40, of Norwich on Tuesday morning. Lt. Kyle Besse of Norwich Police Detective Division said in a press statement that after evaluating surveillance footage from many sources and conducting interviews, they determined Dionne was responsible for the graffiti. Dionne was charged with breach of peace and two charges of third-degree criminal mischief. According to Connecticut General Statutes, a person commits third-degree criminal mischief when they knowingly or recklessly harm state or municipal property on public territory.

The Norwich Police Department is urging anyone who has information about this event or any other criminal behaviour in Norwich to call 860-886-5561. “The safety and well-being of our community remain our top priority, and we will continue to work tirelessly to maintain the integrity and safety of Norwich,” Besse said in an email.

Vandalism in Norwich

The swastikas were spraypainted across the Salem Turnpike overnight and were discovered the morning of February 21. According to Besse, the Norwich Department of Public Works promptly covered them up. “This type of vandalism is unacceptable and does not reflect the values of our community,” Besse stated in a press release. The swastikas were discovered at the crossroads of Old Salem Road and Salem Turnpike, on the I-395 flyover, beneath the overpass, and on the cliff face near the Goodwill. There were three complete swastikas and one incomplete swastika.

Community’s reaction to the graffiti

The photo of the swastika near Liberty Bank, before it was covered up, was shared on local social media pages, including the Norwich Community Forum. It has a huge swastika with President Donald Trump’s last name underneath. “It’s completely unnecessary for someone to deface our town with such hate when we should be working towards a better country together, one small town at a time,” Dakota O’Connell, who shot the photo, said. Rabbi Julius Rabinowitz of Beth Jacob Synagogue stated that the Nazi symbol, the swastika, represented harm to the Jewish people. “Anytime the swastika appears, it produces some kind of alarming response,” he told me.Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom described the vandalism as “an absolute act of cowardice and hate.” Swaranjit Singh, a Norwich City Councilmember, was pleased with the police and public works departments’ prompt response. Singh is concerned that hate crimes have increased since the November 2024 election. “It’s unfortunate that people feel more empowered to do hate speech and political intimidation,” according to him. “That needs to stop.”

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