News

Actions

Deputies investigate racial intimidation incident in Commerce Township

Posted at 9:17 PM, Jul 03, 2016
and last updated 2016-07-03 21:18:37-04

The Oakland County Sheriff's Office is investigating an incident of racial intimidation in Commerce Township.

According to deputies, they were called to the home in the 9000 block of Gittins Blvd. after the homeowner found a small stuffed animal hanging from a tree in the back yard.

Deputies say the stuffed animal had its head cut off and arms taped behind its back. The complainant and his wife are both African-American and said it was some form of "ethnic intimidation."

The homeowner said he had no idea who did it, but said they have had some issues in the more than two years they lived there.

He told deputies that boaters have pulled up to their property and pointed at them in the past. Also, he said last month, someone called out the N word while his wife was at a barbeque at the neighbor's house