Wilton Manors Police Investigate Possible Hate Crime
FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) - Police in Wilton Manors have launched an investigation into what they termed a hate crime directed at one of the city's residents.
The man who claims he was physically and verbally assaulted told police he was walking in the 2200 block of Wilton Drive around 12:40 a.m. when a Hispanic male with a shaved head started throwing rocks at him and calling him a 'faggot'.
Click here to watch Carey Codd's report.
The man said as he walked about a block and a half to his home, the man followed him and continued to use sexually biased slurs and threw rocks at his residence.
The rock thrower then got into a gold Honda Accord and drove off.
"Wilton Manors has absolutely no tolerance for hate crimes. I commend the victim for coming forward and having the courage to prosecute," said Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick in a statement.
Business owner Rene Arredondo hopes it's a fluke.
"I've been here a year but it shows you it's out there," said Arredondo.
Residents said this type of action has no place anywhere.
"This is garbage," said Mark Smith. "We don't need this in Wilton Manors."
It's not the first time this happened in Wilton Manors. In June two men who were run down. They said it was because they are gay.
Jimmie Lamb said he's been surprised by the level of violence he's seen in the community.
"The criminality in this safe haven is really surprising," he said.
Residents believe the Wilton Manors Police department is aggressively pursuing the case and they believe an incident like this will galvanize residents, make them closer and cause them to work harder to overcome hate.
"When you live in a community of this nature you develop a family," said Daniel, declining to give his last name. "You don't have to think about that because this is such an open community where you can really be who you want to be and who you are. And you don't have to worry about that."
Wilton Manors police said they could use the public's help in locating the culprit who threw rocks. Anyone who may have seen what happened or has information which could help track the guy down should call Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-8477.
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