Man arrested for leaving anti-Semitic note at Dickinson College’s Asbell Center for Jewish Life; police

George Stockburger
·1 min read

CARLISLE, Pa. (WHTM) – Police have arrested a man for allegedly leaving an anti-Semitic note at the Asbell Center for Jewish Life at Dickinson College.

Ronald Bates, 52, was charged Thursday with misdemeanor counts of ethnic intimidation, harassment and disorderly conduct, Carlisle Police said in a news release. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for a later date.

Bates is accused of putting the note at the front door of the Jewish cultural center, located at 262 W High St., just after 7 p.m. on Wednesday, police said.

Dickinson College released a statement on Thursday saying “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.“

The college added “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.” 

According to the American Jewish Committee’s State of Antisemitism in America 2023 report, “24% of current or recent college students say they felt uncomfortable or unsafe at a campus event because they are Jewish” and “44% of American Jews with a direct connection to a college campus, avoided or experienced at least one behavior out of fear of antisemitism.”

This is not the first time Carlisle Police have investigated messages left at the Asbell Center for Jewish Life. In January 2022 police said Frank Petromio placed stickers with “inflammatory and intimidating messages” on the building.

Petromio pled guilty in February 2023 to ethnic intimidation and was sentenced to one year of probation, to have no contact with the center, to stay off the college campus, and to be required to attend a cultural awareness course.

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