Updated on June 8 at 7:15 p.m. with details about the vandalism.

 

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — A 20-year-old Williams College student was arrested Sunday on charges of vandalism, destruction of private property and resisting arrest after an early morning incident on the day of the college's commencement exercises, police said. 

 

Liam Carey of Falls Church, Va., was being held on $7,500 cash bail, Williamstown Police Chief Michael Ziemba said late Sunday morning. 

 

The WPD was called to campus at about 8 a.m. Sunday for a report of a person who had taken down the American Flag from a campus flag pole, raised what "appeared to be either a Palestinian flag or a free Palestine flag" and tied himself to the pole, Ziemba said. 

 

In addition, a vandal had painted graffiti on nearby walkways and a large marble installation near the entrance to the school's Library Quad, site of the commencement ceremony. 

 

Police officers helped remove Carey from the pole, and, since he is a student at the school, looked to the college on the question of whether to take him into custody, Ziemba said. School officials offered Carey the chance to leave on his own, but he declined. 

 

Carey then went limp when officers attempted to remove him, leading to the charge of resisting arrest, Ziemba said. An officer cut his hand while putting Carey in a police vehicle and may require stitches, Ziemba said. 

 

College staff were able to cover up most of the graffiti before the 10 a.m. commencement, which went off as scheduled. 

 

A college spokesperson Sunday morning said the graffiti was "pro-Palestinian" but could not provide any more detail. 

 

Late Sunday, Ziemba said, "The graffiti was pro-Palestine or anti 'colonizers.' Some was vulgar. Some accused Williams of funding genocide. Some was just random thoughts."

 

"Just the fact that it was graffiti would be enough to charge," Ziemba said. 

 

The WPD already had several officers assigned to help with the graduation, but at the college's request, additional officers were added, Ziemba said. 

 

Ziemba said it is unclear whether Carey was acting alone, and the incident remains under investigation.