TOMS RIVER – A man was charged Wednesday with carving a swastika in the front yard of a Lakewood home, authorities said.

The residents of the home said Scott Cooney, 45, of Lakewood, had verbally harassed and threatened them in the past, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. On Sunday, the victims saw Cooney use what appeared to be a lead pipe to carve the swastika in the front yard, authorities said.

Avoiding confrontation, the residents stayed inside the home but later took a picture and went to the Lakewood Police Department, the prosecutor’s office said.

Lakewood police Detective Leroy Marshall and Sgt. Greg Staffordsmith arrested Cooney at around 11 a.m. Wednesday at his Dorchester Drive home, authorities said.

Cooney complained of chest pains while being processed at police headquarters and was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood where he was treated and released, the prosecutor’s office said.

Cooney was charged with bias intimidation, harassment and criminal mischief and was expected to be taken to the Ocean County Jail in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Ashley Peskoe may be reached at apeskoe@nj.com. Follow her on Twitter @ashleypeskoe. Find NJ.com on Facebook.