ST. JOHN, Virgin Islands (14 Sep 2005) -- Police Commissioner Elton Lewis said Tuesday that federal and local investigators have made "substantial progress" into reported hate crimes on St. John but that he could not provide any details of the investigations. Lewis did draw connections between recent incidents that have inflamed emotions in St. John and across the territory. The chain of events began in June when a black couple reported to police that their car and home were vandalized with racial slurs and threats. In that same month, St. John business owner Robert Sells, who is white, was charged with shoving a neighboring business owner, who is a black woman, and making racial remarks. On Aug. 30, a black woman reported that she had been kidnapped and raped, and according to Government House spokesman James O'Bryan Jr., told police the men were white and wore masks. Several days after the rape report, Sells' car and his Cruz Bay business were set on fire on consecutive nights, damaging the car and destroying the business. In another incident, Skinny Legs, a white-owned restaurant in Coral Bay, was also set ablaze. Lewis said that while the investigation is not yet complete, federal and local authorities are looking at how the incidents fit together. "All the incidents are connected in one way or another," he said. "But, we are investigating these incidents separately." The string of incidents has touched off a firestorm of anger across St. John, culminating in a passionate public meeting with local police and federal investigators two weeks ago. The only details about the rape that have been released to the public are: the victim was a St. John resident; the crime happened on the island's East End; and the victim was treated at Myrah Keating Smith Health Center after the attack. Lewis said Tuesday that he would release more information to the public when the investigation was complete and the information in the case is more clear. | | Speculation about the rape has been rampant in recent weeks and has been fueled by rumors that white men attacked a black woman because of her race and that the victim was tied up, raped and thrown into the ocean. Jurisdiction for hate crimes falls to the federal government because no local hate crime law exists. Lewis Tuesday said the FBI was the lead agency investigating the incidents with help from the U.S. Department of Justice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives - which was helping investigate the arsons - the U.S. Attorney's Office, and the local police and attorney general's office. "All evidence collected by the Virgin Islands Police Department has been turned over to the FBI and the ATF," he said. He said the FBI had assigned six special agents to the case. Reached in Puerto Rico on Tuesday, FBI officials said the bureau had no comment on the ongoing investigation. Lewis said significant resources were being directed at the cases and progress was being made. "The matters have been substantially completed," he said of the investigations. When the federal agencies finish their work, he said, they will meet with local authorities and make further decisions at that point. In the meantime, Lewis encouraged anyone with information to contact the FBI office in Puerto Rico at 787-754-6000. Lewis also asked the public to refrain from spreading rumors until the investigation is complete. "I urge the public not to allow rumors and innuendos to divide this community," he said. SOURCE - Virgin Islands Daily News |
