valleyfair072508

Attack on dad at Valleyfair not hate crime

After a flurry of calls asking for a hate-crime charge, the Scott County attorney's office set the record straight on the victim's race: He is black, as are the suspects.

By JIM ADAMS, Star Tribune

Last update: July 25, 2008 - 9:29 AM

In the wake of recent news reports that a group of young black men at Valleyfair attacked a father defending his daughter, the Scott County attorney's office has been inundated with calls urging that they be charged with a hate crime.

But County Attorney Patrick Ciliberto said Thursday that is not an option because both the suspects and the victim are black.

Ciliberto said he is making that fact public because he believes the high-profile case, which has provoked intense discussion on local talk radio and other forums, has divided the community. He said some of the people calling his office said they've heard on talk radio shows that the victim was white.

Ciliberto said his office has handled other high-profile cases but none that generated more calls, e-mails and inquiries -- more than 200 in all -- than the Valleyfair case. Why so much reaction?

"The community finds it unacceptable that a family would go to an amusement park geared for family entertainment and the result is that a father would be severely beaten," he said.

Chief Deputy Ron Hocevar said he had no idea why so many people called about a possible hate crime. "We would like to know that answer, too," he said. "We have the same question."

The case was discussed on at least two talk-radio stations: KQRS and KTLK, on the Jason Lewis show. It's also been a popular topic on blogs and news sites that have reported the story.

The 41-year-old Apple Valley man and his family were walking out of the amusement park in Shakopee about midnight on July 4 when two young men approached and harassed his teenage daughter. Initial information said she was slapped on the buttocks, but police now say that it appears she was swatted on the head. The father yelled at the men, one of whom called for others to join in on the assault. Third-degree assault charges filed July 8 against seven suspects allege they repeatedly kicked the father and stomped on his head. The man was knocked out and hospitalized for a broken eye socket and other injuries.

Ciliberto has said more serious charges are possible if the victim suffered permanent injuries. Ciliberto is still waiting for final medical and police reports. He planned to meet with the victim today.

The victim has not commented, but his wife said Thursday she was surprised that people thought her family was white. She has said she and her three daughters were punched by the group when they tried to protect her husband. The family fears retaliation and has asked not to be identified.

Police initially said the girl was 12 but later clarified that she was 15 at the time and recently turned 16. Shakopee Capt. Jeff Tate said investigators reinterviewed witnesses who may have been excited and imprecise when police talked to them shortly after the assault.

Ciliberto said he also received many inquiries about why the defendants -- six men and a 14-year-old boy -- were released after posting bonds for relatively low bail amounts of $40,000 to $60,000 each. The prosecutor, Mike Groh, asked for $75,000 bail. Bail was set by Judge Michael Fahey, who said it would be improper to comment because the cases are still pending.

However, Chief Judge Bill Macklin said setting bail is one of the most challenging tasks that judges do, often on short notice with limited information. He said the primary aim is to ensure the accused returns for court appearances. Court rules say judges should weigh many factors, including how serious the charge and how strong the evidence is, and whether the accused poses a public threat, is connected to the community through family or job, or has any criminal record, he said.

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658

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