Brookhaven police have charged a 34-year-old Chamblee man with burglary in a break-in they say appears to be connected to the vandalism of several offices, including the campaign headquarters of one of the four candidates for the Georgia House of Representatives who will be on the ballot July 14.
Solomon Danziger was charged with burglary in connection with with vandalism that occurred at Nuts ‘N Berries, 4274 Peachtree Road in Brookhaven, police reported.
Candidate Catherine Bernard’s campaign headquarters, located upstairs in the same building at 4274 Peachtree, also was vandalized. Police also discovered similar acts of vandalism occurred at the Peachtree Flower Shop Inc., 4280 Peachtree Road.
Bernard’s campaign office apparently was vandalized some time between 11 p.m. July 12 and 5 a.m. July 13, campaign manager Monica Matthews said. Someone apparently climbed a ladder onto the roof of the building and then into the campaign office, which is on the top floor, she said.
Police said various symbols and drawings were painted throughout the building. Detectives found office supplies and electronics staged in the business as if they were going to be taken from the business, according to a police statement.
Similar acts of vandalism were discovered at other places and police are continuing their investigation, Brookhaven Police spokesman Maj. Brandon Gurley said.
Although early news reports centered on the vandalism at Bernard’s headquarters, “it does not appear that [the vandalism] was politically motivated,” Gurley said. “[Bernard’s] office was one of several were were vandalized.”
Police arrested Danziger after he appeared at Nuts ‘N Berries later on July 13, the day the break-ins were discovered, Gurley said.
Bernard is among four candidates seeking the District 80 seat in a special election July 14. The others are Taylor Bennett, a Democrat and former Georgia Tech football player; Loren Collins, a self-described “Bull Moose Republican” and former write-in candidate for U.S. Congress; and Republican and former Brookhaven Mayor J. Max Davis.