Purchase student arrested in swastika case

A Purchase College student has been arrested on charges he drew swastikas on a dormitory's walls.

Raymond Turchioe, 18, of New York City was arrested Thursday night by Purchase College police and charged with first-degree aggravated harassment, a felony. He was arraigned in Harrison Town Court and sent to the Westchester County jail on $15,000 bail, or $25,000 bond. He is to appear in court again Tuesday.

The police complaint states that Turchioe drew swastikas in Farside Dormitory about 3 a.m. on March 17.

"The defendant at the above date, time and place did with intent to harass, annoy, threaten or alarm another person ... drew upon or otherwise placed swastikas, commonly exhibited as the emblem of Nazi Germany, on building or other real property," it reads.

The complaint states that Turchioe etched or drew multiple swastikas in the dorm, believing it was occupied by members of the Jewish faith, "causing alarm, fear, and annoyance to the residents."

Swastikas were found in a dorm March 18, authorities said earlier, and drawings of noose were found March 21 on four walls in campus dorms. The campus newspaper, The Purchase Phoenix, identified those undergraduate dormitories as Farside, Crossroads and Big Haus.

The Westchester County District Attorney's Office's Bias Crime Unit has been investigating the graffiti with SUNY Purchase police.

Dennis Craig, an associate provost for enrollment and vice president of marketing at Purchase College, said Turchoie was only charged in the incident at one dorm. The other incidents remain under investigation, he said.

"We've issued an interim suspension," Craig said of Turchioe's status as a student. "That follows our judicial process, a first step."

The student is not allowed on campus before a hearing is set, some time after spring break, which is next week.

"This continues to be a very sad story," Craig said of the situation. "We're all shocked, or angered by what happened. On the other hand, there were a lot of good conversations and an outpouring of support from our students and our larger community. We're appreciative of that level of support that we've received.