February 10, 2006

Were gunshots and slashed tires motivated by hate?

by Eric Resnick

Toledo--A gay man living near the Old West End is worried that a recent series of incidents were motivated by anti-gay bias.

Peter van Herwaarden, 67, had his tires slashed twice, heard gunshots in his driveway and had a note taped to the door of his apartment saying ?No Faggots Allowed,? all within the month of January.

It is not clear to police or van Herwaarden if the incidents are related.

The four tires on van Herwaarden?s 1993 Plymouth Voyager were slashed January 3 while the minivan was in his open garage. According to the police report, van Herwaarden first suspected a neighbor with whom he?d had an earlier disagreement over the neighbor?s car blocking his.

That investigation led nowhere, but police returned to the four-apartment Kenilworth Avenue building three days later, after van Herwaarden heard gunshots coming from the driveway.

Police arrived and collected seven .45-caliber shells from the pavement. Their report adds that at the time of the call--5:30 pm--van Herwaarden ?did smell of intoxicants and was greatful (sic) for officers assistance.?

On January 13, van Herwaarden found his four tires slashed again. Two days later, he returned home to find a note on his door saying, ?No Faggots Allowed,? signed, ?Manager.?

Van Herwaarden said the handwriting on the note matches that of a second note attached to his mailbox January 23 complaining about where he put his trash. That note is signed by a neighbor in the same building and gives her phone number.

Police are investigating the events as a possible anti-gay hate crime. However, according to the reports, no determination has been made yet.

Toledo includes anti-gay bias in its ?ethnic intimidation? ordinance.

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