Salem juvenile detectives with the assistance of the Salem High School resource officer have identified three suspects involved in the vandalism and graffiti at the Salem United Methodist Church last week in Salem.

The vandalism on Wednesday left a residential home and a church spray-painted with profane language, swastikas and a cross with male genitalia.

The three suspects, all juveniles, will be charged with several counts of criminal mischief via juvenile petition to Salem District Court. Those to be charged are are two 15-year-old boys from Windham, and one 15-year-old boy from Salem.

According to authorities, the vandals acted sometime between 2 and 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, covering the North Salem United Methodist Church and a home at 395 N. Main St. in spray-painted graffiti that also included religious ephithets. Several windows in the church had been broken, including some at an adjacent trailer near the rear of the structure.

Police could not estimate how much financial damage either the church or the residence had suffered.

Capt. Shawn Patten said both of the male suspects were confronted by the homeowner on Thursday. According to Patten, while both claimed to know nothing about the damages, the pair had acted nervously and had been seen in the neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon.

Detectives were able to gather evidence from the crime scene, according to the authorities and an active investigation is underway. Police said charges would be pressed in the near future.

– Derrick Perkins