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Suspect sought in racially motivated assault in Longview

Friday, August 22, 2008 11:08 PM PDT

By Thacher Schmid

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Much remains unclear about an apparent hate crime in Longview just before dusk Thursday, but a trail of blood along 11th Avenue tells its own story.

Police say an interracial, teen couple were assaulted near 11th Avenue and California Way shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday by a white male between 18 and 21. The suspect was wearing orange plaid shorts, a green shirt and a black baseball cap with a swastika surrounded by metal spikes.

The young couple had left the Burger King on Oregon Way and encountered the suspect as they neared 11th Avenue. The suspect began taunting them and using racial slurs, said Longview Detective Terry Reece. Then he assaulted them.

The 14-year-old white male victim was slapped and hit in the mouth; the 13-year-old black female victim was thrown to the ground. Afterward, they headed for the Texaco gas station on 11th and Tennant Way, leaving a trail of blood drops on the 11th Avenue sidewalk and across the gas station parking lot that was still visible Friday afternoon.

Texaco clerk Elaine Comstock said she looked up, saw the 14-year-old’s condition and immediately dialed 911.

“He was bleeding something terrible,” Comstock said.

The pair didn’t wait around for police and an ambulance, continuing on 11th Avenue. Police and medical responders apparently caught up with them as they were walking home.

The crime is the city’s first violent hate crime in more than a year, Reece said. Two Latino men were assaulted by three white males in the parking lot of the Speedy Mart on Tennant Way — four blocks from the Texaco station — in July 2007. One arrest was made in that case. There have been other, non-violent racial incidents, including swastika graffiti and keyed cars. In July, a teenager was arrested for racist graffiti in Longview’s Ironwood neighborhood.

Whether either victim was seriously injured was unclear Friday, but Reece confirmed both received treatment at St. John’s Medical Center. Longview police are investigating the assault as a hate crime, and possible charges include malicious harassment — a “hate crime” charge — and assault.

“All accounts we have, it was random,” Reece said Friday. “I don’t know if this is a hate crime yet. We’re going to treat it as a hate crime until we prove or disprove that.”

The investigation is ongoing, and no one is in custody.

The incident left Comstock, the Texaco clerk, shaking her head, a dazed look on her face.

“There was a lot of blood on the ground that I washed away,” she said Friday. A few errant drops clung to the station’s front door.

“All they were doing is walking down the street,” Comstock said.

Can you help?

If you have information on this attack, please call Longview police at (360) 442-5800 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at (360) 577-1206.

Related articles:

Police tracking recent wave of petty vandalism, racist graffiti  (July 24)

Vandals target Kelso High School  (June 7, 2007)

Vandals tag Longview neighborhood with racist graffiti  (May 21)

Hate crimes in Longview?  (Aug. 1, 2007)

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justareader wrote on Aug 22, 2008 2:54 PM:

" You know, it's a sad day when two friends of different ethnicity can't walk together in public. I hope the older boy (and I do mean BOY 'cause he's using bully tactics) is caught soon and shown the error of his ways. Longview P.D. has been doing a good job lately and I hope this case follows just as well. "

Proud Mama wrote on Aug 22, 2008 4:13 PM:

" I hope this assailant is brought to justice and I hope he is made an example of what will not be tolerated here in our community. Unbelievable! "

mikadax wrote on Aug 22, 2008 4:22 PM:

" So, anyone w/a swastika on their hats can be stopped and questioned right! Considered a suspect right! This is a good reason to avoid someone w/swastikas on their hats right! So, I can safely assume anyone w/ a hat such as this is dangerous right! "

Doug McCratch wrote on Aug 22, 2008 4:44 PM:

" Mikadax: I automatically assume someone wearing a swastika is dangerous, racist, antisocial and demented. Isn't that the image they want to convey? I'd also assume that someone who wears a swastika, thereby publicly embracing Hitler's sick, genocidal views, would be more likely to commit a violent crime against another person. So in answer to your question, YES. "

Local Yokel wrote on Aug 22, 2008 4:48 PM:

" mikadax: If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck - it's usually a duck! If it feels the need to display anti-semitic symbols, its going to be treated as the racist it is advertising itself to be. Why should it be any different? If "a young black male in blue jeans and a white shirt" can be the description of a suspect in a crime, then a "young white male wearing a hat with a swastika" can equally be a suspect in a crime. "

TheGenius wrote on Aug 22, 2008 4:57 PM:

" Stay classy, Cowlitz County! "

Louie wrote on Aug 22, 2008 5:31 PM:

" How awful for those two kids. I hope the guy is caught and thrown in jail for a long time so he can think about what he has done.
This is so sad and why or why does it happen after all these years. Uneducated, racists who are so pathetic. "

imlovinit wrote on Aug 22, 2008 5:57 PM:

" Wow what decade is this. How cruel to assault children. They better catch this monster, what a total loser. "

Rosey Glasses wrote on Aug 22, 2008 6:50 PM:

" There once was a young man with a swastika on his boot. He took his boots to be repaired by a friends father who repaired boots, shoes and other such things. The repair-man fixed and added a star of david to the other boot. Then when the young man returned for his boots was informed of the heritage of the swastika and how Hitler had learned from Musalini and such. The young man did change his ways, was a boyfriend to a colored woman for a time. Grew his hair out to cover a racist tatoo on his head. this was about 15 years ago and is a true story. It is all about education and teaching tolerance to our youth. "

country gal wrote on Aug 22, 2008 6:57 PM:

" Yes, I agree, Louie, that this is so sad and this racial thing still lingers on after all these years. I don't understand what people got against whites, blacks, yellows, whatever. We're all made of the same ingrediants! We picked our boogers, clean wax out of our ears, go to the bathroom, etc! The only difference is the color of our skin! I'm so in awe of the many different features we are made as a human being. I don't get it! "

Tortoise wrote on Aug 22, 2008 7:17 PM:

" Rosey: you speak of tolerance but use the word "colored" to describe a racial minority. "

El Gabilon wrote on Aug 22, 2008 10:18 PM:

" We have noticed that many of the winners of gold medals in the Olympics in China are black folks. Surely this should put an end to the ridiculus idea that because one is black one is inferior. Surely those who would follow the nazi persuasion know that even Adolf was proven wrong in the Olympics held in Germany where a black person took gold. The real issue with these people is not race, rather inadequacy, a feeling of worthlessness which they attempt to cover up by bullying others. Those who would imitate nazism should keep in mind that even the great Adolf Hitler knew he was wrong, otherwise he would not have committed suicide. Rather he would have faced the worlds court to prove his case. He was along with most of his followers a coward, inadequte, but clever enough to get others to do his bidding and destroy not only themselves but their country as well. The attack on these two people was an act of a coward not a hero. An act of stupidity rather than intelligence and methinks an act of jealousy. We suggest that whoever you are that you get into track and field and show us your stuff in the next Olympics. "

My Kids' Mom wrote on Aug 23, 2008 12:02 AM:

" Rosey: lovely story. I'm glad I got to read it. tortoise: you missed seeing the trees through the forest. You are fosusing on which "pc" word rosey uses to tell a nice story? I bet you that Rosey is not from this generation of pc words. Sounds to me like "colored" was the pc word she was used to when she was younger. She probably doesn't watch a bunch of tv and focuses trying to be good to people. She's the one of the nicest tdn comment poster. Rosey: did I get any of that right? Never having met you? Forgive me for labeling you as a "she" if you are in fact a "he". Rosey reminds me of my mother-in-law. "

Bag-man wrote on Aug 23, 2008 3:21 AM:

" Tortoise- What does NAACP stand for? The pc term for minorities other than whites in the 60's and 70s was colored people. The most recent politically correct term is people or persons of color. So how is Rosey less tolerant for using the word "colored". That is just silly. Is colored going to be the new "N" word? "

nipsey wrote on Aug 23, 2008 5:18 AM:

" There are more white supremisist organizations located just off of Interstate 5 in CA, OR, and WA than anywhere else in the US. El Gabilon, just the use of the words, "black folk" is a throw back to the 1960's and the racism that was prevalent there. You are part of the problem using this kind of language. "

Amazed By Ignorance wrote on Aug 23, 2008 6:20 AM:

" Take a good look at any playground. You'll see children from all walks of life playing together. They don't care about skin color...all they see is another playmate. I've always envied them that open mindedness. Sad fact: racism is taught. Sadder still, it will never go away. Strike humanity color blind...and humanity will find a new difference to hate. Equally trivial, ignorant and pathetic. "

Cheney119 wrote on Aug 23, 2008 9:38 AM:

" Ever notice that the "people" most proud to be white have the least to be proud about otherwise. If you get down to race on your list of things to take pride in your accomplishments; i.e. education, income, loved ones, friends, abilities, achievements are pretty few and far between. This person will be in jail soon enough (or back in jail) and he'll fit right in. Lets face it this a jailhouse state of mind; as it should be. Who wants them amongst the rest of us? "

Beer&Skittles wrote on Aug 23, 2008 9:58 AM:

" Interesting comments here. I think ALL OF YOU have missed a major point here in how we describe people. I have a really good friend. This friend is tremendously beautiful, phsically and otherwise. This friend is emotionally strong, having been tempered by fire, but it incredibly giving and generous. This friend is amazingly intelligent and witty. This friend is worldly and wise. This friend is fun and silly. This friend is curious and seeks knowledge continually. That's all that matters to me - and that's soooo much. But the rest of you would simply call here a black woman. "

tazer baby wrote on Aug 23, 2008 10:01 AM:

" Cheney119...your comment is without a doubt the most coherent, pleasant and agreeable statement I have ever read of yours. Frankly, I'm taken aback. Thank you for restoring faith in my fellow man. "

Kelso Resident wrote on Aug 23, 2008 10:38 AM:

" I'm proud to be white. and I'm not racist, I may not be a success but the one thing I'm proud of is I'm white "

LviewLocal wrote on Aug 23, 2008 10:52 AM:

" To Amazed by Ignorance-I couldn't agree more, thank you for your comment. To Kelso Resident-the one thing you're proud of is that you're white? I'm not sure I am understanding this comment. My hope is that someday we will be able to talk about each other without feeling the need to point out each other's "color". "

tazer baby wrote on Aug 23, 2008 11:43 AM:

" And just like that...my faith in humanity is dashed. "

Rosey Glasses wrote on Aug 23, 2008 12:30 PM:

" I ment nothing by my post... I can't keep up on the current terminologies. Grief... if one wants to slap someone for using a term... listen to Richard Pryor, RAW. LOL that should get your panties in a bunch!!! Love that man. I was only trying to state a situation that I found to be relavent to the story at hand without the TDN police sensoring me... again. I don't use the 'N' word because it is not what it is used as... those come in all colors, shapes and sizes... btw.. am 47 yrs old and female. Thanks :) "

cheney119 wrote on Aug 23, 2008 3:14 PM:

" You must understand many of my posts are ment to provoke conversation and are not always my opinion, but only a point of view. I don't expect people in Cowlitz County to understand the concept of a GOOD ARGUMENT, but every issue has many sides. Aren't many points of view worth considering????? I just ask you people to THINK! alittle now and then "

cheney119 wrote on Aug 23, 2008 3:33 PM:

" I'm proud I have 10 toes but I don't go around bragging about it and I didn't have to damn much choice in the matter. If you are proud of being white do something with you useless life, get an education, serve in the military and provide a useful service to society. If all you have to be proud of is being white you are a great big piece of nothing, zero, zipp, minisquile nada. GOT IT!!! "

thebasterd wrote on Aug 23, 2008 3:44 PM:

" they are not sure if this is a hate crime yet so why is everyone treating it like one and why is no one pointing out that most hate speech is made by none whites are against jews i thought all hate is wrong but i guess its not as-long as you are racist to jews and whites politicly correct gone wrong i guess "

owlcreekcats wrote on Aug 23, 2008 7:05 PM:

" such a sad day when this happens. a big bully who has no life and has a need to hurt others. keep your fingers crossed LPD will find the coward soon. "

Kelso Resident wrote on Aug 23, 2008 7:22 PM:

" In Regard to cheney119 what he said at 3:33pm on Aug 23rd, I hope you were refering to all races and not just white, if you were just targeting white I think you should realize that whites aren't the only lazy ones around. Every race has their own share of lazy people. "

CHENEY119 wrote on Aug 23, 2008 8:18 PM:

" Be proud of what YOU DO! Being proud of your skin color is desparate, at best. But sitting around wondering which race is laziest is just plain pathetic. Let's get back on track. The article states someone committed an assult on a mixed race couple for nothing but hate. I say if all you have nothing to be proud of but your skin color you ain't got very much going for you; I don't care if you're purple, green or rainbow. Need anything else explained to you? "

Huggygramma wrote on Aug 24, 2008 7:13 AM:

" Parents really need to pay attention to this. No child is born a racist or a bully. This is learned behavior, and often it is learned in the home. Parents, think, before you make that offhand "darkie" joke, or refer to a Jew as a "hebe" jokingly. This stuff doesn't go unnoticed by your children, no matter how young they are. The best way to get rid of this type of attitude, is to provide an environment where it is never demonstrated to begin with. "

Kelso Resident wrote on Aug 24, 2008 4:36 PM:

" In Re to CHENEY119 Dated Aug 23rd at 8:18 PM I think you should be alittle nicer your tone is very insulting. Thank you. "

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