Arrest made after man caught on video urinating on synagogue, giving lewd hand gesture to camera
The culprit was seen clearly on surveillance video.
— -- A young man turned himself into the Philadelphia police after authorities released surveillance video of a suspect giving a lewd hand gesture to the camera and then urinating on the walls of a synagogue.
The culprit was seen on surveillance video early Sunday morning approaching the front doors of the Congregation Beth Solomon, the Philadelphia Police Department said.
The suspect "gave an obscene hand gesture in the direction of the camera, then began to urinate on the walls and sidewalk directly in front of the doors of the synagogue," police said in a statement.
Police said the suspect then got into the passenger seat of a white four-door sedan and left the scene.
On Tuesday at 7 p.m., Sheidali Dzhalilov, 23, turned himself into the police and has been arrested in connection with the vandalism, police said today.
He is charged with ethnic intimidation, indecent exposure, institutional vandalism, desecration objects, open lewdness, harassment and disorderly conduct, the police said.
It was not immediately clear if he has an attorney.
Hours before Dzhalilov turned himself in, Philadelphia Police Lt. Dennis Rosenbaum told ABC News that police received about five or six tips about the suspect on Monday.
Rosenbaum said a rabbi of the synagogue was in the building at the time of the vandalism. The rabbi noticed activity on the surveillance screen, and that's when he checked the tape and saw the suspect's actions, Rosenbaum noted.
"Otherwise he might not have even known it happened," Rosenbaum said.
Rosenbaum said the synagogue has a high-resolution camera as the congregation has faced theft and vandalism in the past. The menorah seen in the background of the surveillance video was previously stolen and then returned, Rosenbaum added.
The synagogue declined to comment.
