Anne Arundel County has failed to successfully prosecute a hate crime in the past two decades, and few arrests in suspected hate crimes have been made. But prosecutors, police and victimized communities say, after as many as four hate crimes in three weeks, they hope to change that and prevent more from happening.
Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Frank R. Weathersbee yesterday announced the formation of a team to investigate and prosecute suspected hate crimes, and to work with victims and their communities.
He assigned a prosecutor with 10 years' experience in these cases, Laura S. Kiessling, to work with police and investigators. Any suspected hate crime, even if stemming from a misdemeanor, will be taken to Circuit Court for prosecution.
"In each of these cases, we are going to ask for incarceration," Weathersbee said.
The head of the county's victim-witness program, Maureen Gillmer, will focus on the victims of these crimes. An investigator from the prosecutor's office will help police as needed. Brochures on hate crimes -- what they are and how to report them -- and information on the office's Web site are being prepared.
Prosecutors, police and members of the county's black community say they hope this concerted get-tough approach signals that crimes tinged with discrimination are especially odious.
Weathersbee said his decision was in response to three crimes. On Aug. 10 or 11, Rapture Church in Lothian was desecrated with racial slurs, equipment was destroyed or stolen, and food from its pantry for the poor was scattered throughout the building.
On Aug. 5, the Gambrills home and car of the Rev. David Queen were vandalized, spray-painted with racial slurs and "KKK."
On July 21, a white waitress in Annapolis was attacked. Police who arrested three black youths say the assault was racially motivated.
Two days earlier, on July 19, a Hispanic man was assaulted in Annapolis by a band of youths. Police say it may have been a hate crime and are pursuing it.
Nobody seems able to explain what appears to be a sudden cluster of hate crimes in and around the state capital, but the cases are not entirely aberrations.
In the first six months of this year, Anne Arundel County police say, 18 suspected hate crimes were recorded. That number was down from the 32 recorded in the comparable time period last year, and a total of 55 for all of last year. Whether the figures are reported crimes or crimes verified by police as hate crimes could not be discerned yesterday, and statewide reports have not yet been compiled for 2000.
