The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that patrons of one of Orlando, Florida's popular gay nightclub said the tire-slashing of more than two dozen cars goes beyond an act of criminal mischief. Some said it smacks of a hate crime."There are cars at the nearby apartments, and I have not heard of any tire slashing happening there Monday night," Revolution patron Miguel de Arias said Tuesday. "It's been Latino gay night here for years, and someone had to know that to do what they did."Monday night at Revolution is billed as an evening catering mostly to Hispanic gays and lesbians.Orlando Police aren't ready to classify the incident as a hate crime, spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones said. It is considered a criminal mischief case because there is no proof that it meets state hate-crime standards.State law defines a hate crime as any criminal acts that show prejudice based on race, religion, ethnicity, color, ancestry, sexual orientation or national origin.Orlando police reports show someone slashed and deflated the tires of nearly 30 vehicles parked in a lot along South Street, east of Bumby Avenue, sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning.The slashings occurred despite the fact the club pays two off-duty Orlando police officers $35 an hour to patrol areas around the club and the fact surveillance cameras monitor activity in the lot, Revolution owner Craig Mestel said.Many of the club's patrons park in that lot, which is not owned or maintained by the owners of the nightclub. Some car owners paid a tow truck to remove their vehicles; others left their disabled cars in the lot.Mestel said he is temporarily contracting with a private agency to add more security.If detectives confirm the tire-slashing incident as a hate crime, it will be the second such crime in the city in the past two months.Orlando police reports show someone defaced the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Community Center and the gay-owned Ritzy Rags, both on Mills Avenue, with a spray-painted swastika and anti-gay slurs in November. Police estimated the damage in that incident cost about $1,000.READ MORE OF THE STORY HERE
The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that patrons of one of Orlando, Florida's popular gay nightclub said the tire-slashing of more than two dozen cars goes beyond an act of criminal mischief. Some said it smacks of a hate crime.
"There are cars at the nearby apartments, and I have not heard of any tire slashing happening there Monday night," Revolution patron Miguel de Arias said Tuesday. "It's been Latino gay night here for years, and someone had to know that to do what they did."
Monday night at Revolution is billed as an evening catering mostly to Hispanic gays and lesbians.
Orlando Police aren't ready to classify the incident as a hate crime, spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones said. It is considered a criminal mischief case because there is no proof that it meets state hate-crime standards.
State law defines a hate crime as any criminal acts that show prejudice based on race, religion, ethnicity, color, ancestry, sexual orientation or national origin.
Orlando police reports show someone slashed and deflated the tires of nearly 30 vehicles parked in a lot along South Street, east of Bumby Avenue, sometime Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
The slashings occurred despite the fact the club pays two off-duty Orlando police officers $35 an hour to patrol areas around the club and the fact surveillance cameras monitor activity in the lot, Revolution owner Craig Mestel said.
Many of the club's patrons park in that lot, which is not owned or maintained by the owners of the nightclub. Some car owners paid a tow truck to remove their vehicles; others left their disabled cars in the lot.
Mestel said he is temporarily contracting with a private agency to add more security.
If detectives confirm the tire-slashing incident as a hate crime, it will be the second such crime in the city in the past two months.
Orlando police reports show someone defaced the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Community Center and the gay-owned Ritzy Rags, both on Mills Avenue, with a spray-painted swastika and anti-gay slurs in November. Police estimated the damage in that incident cost about $1,000.
READ MORE OF THE STORY HERE
0%
