In a disturbing incident in Bexley, Ohio, a man was apprehended by the police on Monday for allegedly trespassing on private property and hurling antisemitic slurs at residents who had displayed Israeli flags outside their homes.
The man, identified as 39-year-old Thomas Reidy, was captured on a doorbell camera approaching a woman's house and labeling her a "Zionist pig." Another resident also reported being a target of Reidy's offensive remarks.
The doorbell camera footage revealed Reidy's unfamiliarity with the technology, as he was heard saying, "I've never used one of these." When the homeowner inquired how she could assist him, Reidy launched into an antisemitic tirade, stating, "You Zionist pigs are f*cking disgusting," while looking directly into the camera.
Fox28 reported that another resident claimed the suspect had wished death upon him and had called him several derogatory names. Bexley police released a statement describing the suspect as a "white male with a beard and plaid/flannel shirt" who had left the scene in a "silver or dark gray two-door sedan." The police noted that the suspect's antisemitic comments seemed to have been provoked by the sight of the Israeli flag displayed in front of the house.
Reidy was arrested at his residence after the video capturing his offensive behavior went viral on social media. He is currently detained at the Franklin County Jail. ABC6 reported that this is not Reidy's first instance of making derogatory comments about Jewish people.
On October 7, he was observed by police shouting about Israel while driving past a synagogue. Although his speech was not deemed illegal at the time, the police recorded his license plate number, which later helped identify him as the suspect in the recent incident.
The charges that Reidy will face remain uncertain, but they could include a hate crime or "ethnic intimidation," in addition to criminal trespass. Local police and Jewish organizations have stated that they believe this to be an isolated incident and do not suspect Reidy of collaborating with others.
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