Charges brought in Goucher graffiti case

A Goucher College student face several charges following the discovery of racist graffiti in dorm bathrooms, Baltimore County Police said Wednesday.

The case against Fynn Ajani Arthur, 21, of Brunswick, Maine, was forwarded to the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore County for possible prosecution as a hate-related crime, officials said. Arthur was released on his own recognizance following a bail review hearing Wednesday afternoon.

Police said Arthur was arrested and charged last Friday with two counts of malicious destruction of property. On Wednesday, four more charges were added, along with a court summons. The additional charges were: two counts of bias instigated destruction of property; and, two counts of animosity instigated harassment/destruction of property.

The first incident occurred on Nov. 14, when a student discovered racially charged graffiti in a bathroom stall around 4:30 a.m. According to the report, the graffiti included a swastika symbol, a racially motivated threat, and three dorm room numbers occupied by black male students, one of whom being Arthur.

The second incident occurred on Nov. 29, when a student reported more racially charged graffiti in a second nearby bathroom. Again, the graffiti featured swastikas, the letters “KKK” and the last names of four black male students, again including Arthur, police said.

The Goucher College Public Safety Office worked with the County Police in partnership with agents from the FBI’s Baltimore Field Office to solve the case.