By Tara Cavanaugh
FERNDALE-
Ferndale Police are investigating a hate crime that occurred around 1 a.m. on June 13.
Ferndale Police Sergeant Patrick Jones said on June 13, two men were in a house on Fielding, west of Woodward, when they heard paint splash. They went outside and saw red paint splashed on the paneling of the house and the word "fag" in yellow spray paint on one victim's car. The words "white fag" were scratched into the door of the other victim's car, which was parked in front of the house.
The Oakland County Daily Tribune reported that the two victims were a gay couple, but Jones said that was not confirmed in the report. Jones said the word "fag" caused the department to investigate the incident as a hate crime.
The same victim reported his house vandalized last year, Jones said. He awoke on Aug. 13, 2010 to red paint splashed on his home and feces thrown on his front porch.
Aside from these two incidents, Jones could not point to any other recent anti-gay hate crimes. "It's really not an issue here," he said. "Everybody gets along and we don't generally see these types of situations."
Sara Spurgeon, a victim's advocate at Equality Michigan, talked with the one of the victims. She said that the men do not believe it was a random attack from a member of the public.
Spurgeon and Equality Michigan have also discussed establishing a Neighborhood Watch program in the area and have helped repair some of the damages to the property.
Spurgeon added that she was pleased with Ferndale Police and their response to the incident.
