2 men arrested for allegedly 'stomping' on Hanukkah menorah in Guilford

Two men from Guilford, Connecticut, were arrested last week for allegedly vandalizing a Hanukkah menorah at the Guilford Town Green on January 5. The suspects, identified as 25-year-old Steven Prinz Jr. and 22-year-old Troy Prinz, reportedly caused significant damage to the menorah, initially thought to be the result of high winds.

However, the situation took a turn when the menorah's owner provided surveillance footage that captured the incident, revealing the two suspects' involvement. In the video, one of the men was seen wearing a gas mask while the other had fabric covering his face. They were shown knocking over the menorah and stomping on it before making their escape.

Police are treating this case as a hate crime due to the nature of the vandalism. As a result, both suspects face multiple charges, including second-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias, second-degree conspiracy to commit intimidation based on bigotry or bias, as well as first-degree criminal mischief and conspiracy.

Following their arrest, Prinz Jr. and Prinz were released on $25,000 bonds. They are expected to appear in court, where they will face the charges brought against them.

This incident has raised concerns within the community about hate crimes and acts of intolerance, highlighting the need for awareness and vigilance against such offenses.