Firefighters face hate crime charges

[mark414]

They threatened man with gun, used slurs, police say

Waukesha - Hate crime charges were filed Friday against two North Lake Fire Department members accused of pointing a gun and verbally abusing a black man from Milwaukee while he was fishing in the Oconomowoc River.

Fire Chief Terrence J. Stapleton was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing justice on accusations he lied to investigators to cover up the actions of another firefighter. Both charges are misdemeanors, but the disorderly conduct charge was enhanced as a hate crime, meaning Stapleton could get up to one year of prison on that charge if he is convicted.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/apr05/320555.asp

i would almost be willing to put money on the fact that these guys will walk, at the least get nothing more than probation, especially if there's a jury involved. waukesha county (immediately west of milwaukee county) is almost 100% white and is one of the most republican counties in the state

this guy mark (bratton) and i share a mutual friend, and he's been fishing out in that area for 3 years now with no problems

i first heard about this on the evening news; while he was being interviewed, the fire chief kept referring to mark as "the colored guy"

god bless america :eyes: