2 ex-cops charged for alleged swastika vandalism, 13 on leave

Two former Torrance, California officers are facing vandalism charges after they allegedly spray-painted a swastika on a car they impounded, the Los Angeles County District Attorney announced Thursday. More than a dozen other officers have been placed on leave after the investigation revealed they allegedly shared racist, homophobic and antisemitic messages, reports CBS Los Angeles.

"It's unacceptable, but it becomes doubly unacceptable when we have the people that are sworn to protect all of us who engage in this behavior," Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said at a press conference as he announced the charges.

Gascon's office says the two former officers, 29-year-old Christopher Tomsic and 28-year-old Cody Weldin, were among a group of officers who responded to a call on Jan. 27, 2020 about three men who had allegedly stolen mail from an apartment building. The two officers impounded a vehicle that may have been used in the alleged crime. When the vehicle's owner retrieved it from a tow yard, he found a happy face had been spray painted on the front passenger seat and a swastika had been spray painted on the rear seat.

Tosmic and Weldin have both been charged with one felony count each of conspiracy to commit vandalism and vandalism, Gascon's office says. The district attorney said he is still considering whether the charges reach the threshold of a hate crime, reports CBS Los Angeles. The officers pleaded not guilty. Both left the department last year, the station reports.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/2-ex-cops-charged-for-alleged-swastika-vandalism-13-on-leave/ar-AANxUzv