CARLISLE, Pa. — Carlisle Police have charged a man who was reportedly caught on camera leaving an anti-Semitic note at Dickinson College's Asbell Center for Jewish Life.
The note was left at the Center on Wednesday and reported to authorities on Thursday, police said.
Ronald Bates, 52, has been charged with one count of ethnic intimidation, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Police are not releasing details regarding what was written in the note, but said the comments were "anti-Semitic in nature."
A Jewish sophomore at Dickinson discovered the note in front of the building on Wednesday and says they immediately reported it to campus security.
"I was walking into the building, and as I got up onto the porch, I saw the note on the ground," said Dickinson College sophomore Mellie, who did not disclose their last name. "And once I read it, I contacted DPS and took pictures of it and everything."
A spokesperson for Dickinson College released the following statement regarding the note:
"We condemn this hateful act. Members of our Department of Public Safety, along with the Carlisle Police Department, are investigating this matter and we continue to work to support our community and keep our campus safe.
We remind everyone, including those with criminal intent, that we will continue our surveillance of every corner of this campus. Anyone engaging in ethnic intimidation or any criminal acts whatsoever will be prosecuted to the fullest extent the law permits. As always, we remind our community members that if they see anything that is untoward, they should report it to DPS immediately."
Students at the center say they've banded together since the incident.
"We're spending time together," Mellie said. "We're just making sure we're here for each other. For people who are more scared and more nervous, we walk each other home if it's dark out. Just a lot of support."