Investigation under way in assault of black teens
By Mark Arner (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. April 18, 2009
EAST COUNTY — Sheriff's deputies are investigating an assault on several black teens at party in Deerhorn Valley last weekend as a potential hate crime.
The worst injuries left Christopher Jones, an 18-year-old senior from Chaparral High School, with 12 stitches on his face, a swollen eye and bite marks. Two boys, both 17, were treated at a hospital for minor injuries.
The Sheriff's Department has not made any arrests.
“I can assure you we are taking this very, very seriously,” said sheriff's Cmdr. Ed Prendergast. “We want to do what we can to get the facts before we take appropriate measures.”
Jones, of Spring Valley, said he had been invited to attend the Saturday night party by text messages sent to his cell phone at the start of spring break. Jones said he and four friends caravaned in four cars to a house on Cinnamon Drive near Thyme Way, west of Barrett Lake in the Cleveland National Forest.
About 150 people, mainly white, were gathered, he said.
At first, Jones said, his friends were welcomed and offered beer. Jones said that as the designated driver of one car, he didn't drink any alcohol.
Jones said the mood changed about 10 p.m. when a group of white males started directing racial slurs at them. He said that when he objected, he was hit in the face and dragged down a hallway to the bathroom.
He said he was beaten and bitten until friends forced their way down the hall and rescued him. They ran back to Jones' car and tried to drive away, but hit a dead end. When they drove back, about eight males carrying crowbars, metal poles and bats were blocking the road, Jones said.
Someone threw a rock through his side window and hit him in the face, causing him to swerve and hit a car.
“Someone yelled out, 'You (racial slur) aren't gonna make it out of here alive!' ” Jones said.
Jones and others ran into the forest to get away, but when they came back, their 2001 Mitsubishi Galant wouldn't start. Its windows were shattered, the sunroof was torn out, the interior was shredded, and it was covered with muddy footprints.
Another friend drove them to a hospital in La Mesa.
Property records show that the house on Cinnamon Drive is owned by David C. Toner. No one answered phone calls made to the home.
“We're investigating it for a potential hate crime,” said Sgt. James Piscitelli. “But we have to get the facts before we can go to the district attorney with anything.”
State Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, a founder of United for a Hate Free San Diego, spoke out against hate crimes at a news conference yesterday along with the United African American Ministers Action Council.
“When something like this occurs, we want to make sure law enforcement acts quickly, has a thorough investigation and gives a full reporting of what occurred,” Saldaña said in a phone interview.
She said hate crimes are often underreported in the county and sometimes are confused with gang crime.
“This is clearly not that kind of situation,” she said.
The Sheriff's Department has urged witnesses to call (619) 473-3046 or (858) 565-5200, or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
By Mark Arner (Contact) Union-Tribune Staff Writer
2:00 a.m. April 18, 2009
EAST COUNTY — Sheriff's deputies are investigating an assault on several black teens at party in Deerhorn Valley last weekend as a potential hate crime.
The worst injuries left Christopher Jones, an 18-year-old senior from Chaparral High School, with 12 stitches on his face, a swollen eye and bite marks. Two boys, both 17, were treated at a hospital for minor injuries.
The Sheriff's Department has not made any arrests.
“I can assure you we are taking this very, very seriously,” said sheriff's Cmdr. Ed Prendergast. “We want to do what we can to get the facts before we take appropriate measures.”
Jones, of Spring Valley, said he had been invited to attend the Saturday night party by text messages sent to his cell phone at the start of spring break. Jones said he and four friends caravaned in four cars to a house on Cinnamon Drive near Thyme Way, west of Barrett Lake in the Cleveland National Forest.
About 150 people, mainly white, were gathered, he said.
At first, Jones said, his friends were welcomed and offered beer. Jones said that as the designated driver of one car, he didn't drink any alcohol.
Jones said the mood changed about 10 p.m. when a group of white males started directing racial slurs at them. He said that when he objected, he was hit in the face and dragged down a hallway to the bathroom.
He said he was beaten and bitten until friends forced their way down the hall and rescued him. They ran back to Jones' car and tried to drive away, but hit a dead end. When they drove back, about eight males carrying crowbars, metal poles and bats were blocking the road, Jones said.
Someone threw a rock through his side window and hit him in the face, causing him to swerve and hit a car.
“Someone yelled out, 'You (racial slur) aren't gonna make it out of here alive!' ” Jones said.
Jones and others ran into the forest to get away, but when they came back, their 2001 Mitsubishi Galant wouldn't start. Its windows were shattered, the sunroof was torn out, the interior was shredded, and it was covered with muddy footprints.
Another friend drove them to a hospital in La Mesa.
Property records show that the house on Cinnamon Drive is owned by David C. Toner. No one answered phone calls made to the home.
“We're investigating it for a potential hate crime,” said Sgt. James Piscitelli. “But we have to get the facts before we can go to the district attorney with anything.”
State Assemblywoman Lori Saldaña, a founder of United for a Hate Free San Diego, spoke out against hate crimes at a news conference yesterday along with the United African American Ministers Action Council.
“When something like this occurs, we want to make sure law enforcement acts quickly, has a thorough investigation and gives a full reporting of what occurred,” Saldaña said in a phone interview.
She said hate crimes are often underreported in the county and sometimes are confused with gang crime.
“This is clearly not that kind of situation,” she said.
The Sheriff's Department has urged witnesses to call (619) 473-3046 or (858) 565-5200, or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
