3 Charged In Alleged Hate-Crime Confrontation Near Millennium Park
CHICAGO (STMW) -- Three teens are charged with a hate crime after making derogatory statements and threatening someone Thursday night near Millennium Park.
The victim, a male of an unidentified age, called police about 8 p.m. after the three accosted him in the 100 block of North Michigan Avenue at a Metra station, according to police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala.
The Millennium Station on the Metra Electric Line is located on Michigan Avenue between South Water and Randolph streets, according to Metra's website.
"They harassed him and used derogatory remarks; they threatened him,'' said Zala. "Their comments were in violation of the hate crime statute.''
Zala would not confirm the comments were anti-gay in nature.
The victim was not physically harmed, and he contacted police as the three fled.
When officers arrived, the victim gave them a description and police apprehended suspects a short while later in the 600 block of North Michigan Avenue, Zala said.
Mack Heard, 17, of the 5000 block of Harvard Lane in Richton Park, and Kendrick L. Towner, 18, of the 5200 block of Deana Lane, also in Richton Park, were charged with one felony count each of hate crime and one misdemeanor count each of aggravated assault in a public place, according to Zala.
A 14-year-old boy was charged with one felony count of hate crime and one misdemeanor count of aggravated assault in a public place, the officer said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2010. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
