Swastikas scrawled on hay bales in Marysville field

MARYSVILLE – More than 40 swastikas have been scrawled on white-plastic sheeting used to cover hay bales in a field off I-5 in Marysville.

The swastikas, a symbol of anti-Semitism, were reported to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday by a passerby, spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.

“It’s ugly and no one likes to see this in our community,” Hover said.

The field where the swastikas were found is off 34th Avenue NE just south of 136th Street NE. The swastikas are visible from the southbound lanes of the freeway.

Property owners first learned of the graffiti from a reporter on Monday.

The farmer contracted to take care of the field will be asked to remove the vandalism immediately, said Woody MacLeod, a spokesman for MacAngus Ranches Inc, which owns the land.

“He should get that out of there so it’s out of the way,” MacLeod said.

Dozens of covered hay bales dot the nearly 60-acre property. As many as 40 of the bales had swastikas.

“This is a disturbing event for the Jewish community as it is when any religious or ethnic group is targeted,” said Janis Warner, president of Temple Beth Or in Everett. “We have trust in the authorities to investigate this vandalism to its full extent, ensuring the safety of individuals and property.”

Making arrests in vandalism cases can be difficult, Hover said.

“Unless we get some information about a possible suspect, there isn’t much more we can do at this point,” she said.

Herald reporter Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437 or jholtz@heraldnet.com.