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Homeless Man Charged In Synagogue Vandalism

MIAMI BEACH (CBSMiami) - A homeless man is accused of defacing a sign in front of a Miami Beach synagogue with symbols of hate.

Maximo De La Cruz-De Jesus, 43, has been charged with one count of criminal mischief on a place of worship.

Using fingerprints left on the sign, Miami Beach police were able to identify De Jesus as the prime suspect. He was then positively identified by a witness, according to police.

Authorities said they received a call just before 3 a.m. Tuesday about someone scribbling graffiti on the sign located at the entrance to the Temple Emanu-el at 1701 Washington Avenue.

When officers arrived they found a swastika, the letters "KKK", the number 33 and various words drawn on the sign.

"My first feeling is one of shock, but I think more importantly disappointment," said Rabbi Henry Abramson.

Surveillance video shows a man with a backpack walk up to the building to draw a swastika on a banner along with the words "all out war" and the letters KKK. Then he goes out of view. A short time later a second person with a flash light appears on the video and it looks like he is saying something to the man wearing the back pack. The man with the back pack appears back on camera and then walks away.

"They think that maybe they're doing a prank, they're not," said temple director Barbara Breswlo. "This isn't a prank. This is very serious. We're taking this very seriously."

Watch Natalia Zea's Report

Rabbi Marc Phillipe said this is not the first time something like this has happened at the temple.

"Two weeks ago, we had a hatred letter left in our restrooms and unfortunately the authorities didn't think it was too serious, but it was obviously serious because this happens two weeks later in the front of the synagogue," said Phillipe.

Police are taking this very seriously. The Miami Beach Police Chief made a personal visit to the scene at Temple Emanu-el. He refused to discuss the case, but said he's looking for any connection between recent cases.

On Saturday, September 6th, police said someone painted a cartoonish red "V" and "J" along with a swastika and letters KKK on the rear wall of a Publix grocery store at 9400 Harding Avenue in Surfside.

A red letter "V" and the swastika symbol were also painted on the street in the 9500 block of Bay Drive.

Roughly 20 miles away in West Miami, the same symbol of hate was lightly sketched into a wall of a Jewish temple at SW 8th street. The word "Iraq" was also scribbled above the swastika.

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