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Man sought in attempted cross burning |
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| GILBERTSVILLE
-- Local police and federal authorities are looking for
an unidentified white man who was spotted trying to burn a cross in the
front yard of a black family’s home. Mike Ditty, who lives across the street, spotted the man trying to light the cross Saturday night. "I saw the vehicle drive past and shut off its lights," Ditty said. "It did a U-turn, came back toward their property,and a guy got out the passenger side." Ditty said the man was about 5 feet, 9 inches tall with a stocky build. His head was shaved and he was wearing jeans, a black jacket and black boots. The man took the cross out of the rear of the vehicle, which Ditty described as a late 1980s, early 1990s full-size sport utility vehicle, possibly a Ford Bronco or Chevrolet Blazer. The man placed the cross near the family’s mailbox and bent down to set it on fire. Ditty asked the guy what he thought he was doing. "He said, ‘Why don’t you come down and I’ll show you. I’ve got a gun and I’ll shoot you,’" Ditty said. Ditty admitted he considered the possibility that the man was serious, but that didn’t deter him from speaking his mind. "I told him to get his ignorant ass out of here," Ditty said. Then the man let loose a clue to his identity. "He said why don’t you come up to Bechtelsville and see what we do to your kind." Police arrived a short time later, but the man had fled. They are asking for the public’s help to find him. Douglass (Mont.) Police Officer Dirk Boughter said the 4-foot cross, which failed to ignite, appeared to be made of wood. "It was wrapped in some kind of fabric," Boughter said. "It’s being analyzed now. We hope to get fingerprints off it." Boughter said the family is upset, but handling it "better than I would." "They’re strong," he said. "But obviously they’re upset." Boughter would not identify the family. He said they have lived in the neighborhood for four or five years. In that time, they have experienced other forms of intimidation. "There’s been a few problems in the past," Boughter said. "There was some graffiti." This rural township has not experienced racially-motivated crimes in several years, according to Boughter, who has been with the department for four years. Members of the Ku Klux Klan conducted parades through neighboring Boyertown more than 10 years ago, but have since disappeared from public appearances. Boyertown Police Chief Barry Leatherman said the area has an unfortunate reputation for racism. Leatherman said people remember Ku Klux Klan activity from years ago. "I’ve been here 10 years and there hasn’t been anything like that," he said. "We get a bad reputation." State troopers and the FBI are assisting Douglass (Mont.) police in the search for the man who tried to burn the cross Saturday night. Ditty said he feels too many people witness similar incidents and decide to let someone else take a stand. "These groups are ignorant. They’re afraid to take a look at themselves," he said. "We need to stand up to them." Anyone with information is urged to call 610-367-0466. Callers may remain anonymous.
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| ©The Mercury 2004 |
