Suspect Arrested In Benton Harbor, Investigated For Possible Hate Crime

MICHIGAN — Benton Township Police Chief Vincent Fetke recently announced the arrest of a 23-year-old man in connection with a Dec. 12 attack at a gas station.

The OutCenter, a local gay and lesbian community organization, has classified the assault as a hate crime and rallied behind the victim for support in his fight for justice.

Local police, using video surveillance from the service station, tracked leads to the alleged attacker, who reportedly punched the victim in the face while uttering gay slurs, police said.

The assailant was arrested Saturday morning at a Benton Harbor fast-food restaurant, stated Fetke, and was taken into custody without incident.

The victim told police that he had parked his car in the southeast corner of the gas station and when he exited his car a male approached him. The assailant asked the victim, “What’s up?” and then reportedly struck the victim in the face with his fist.

“The victim was dazed from the blow and tried to make it to the entrance of the gas station but slipped on the ice and fell. The subject punched and kicked him several times” and then ran off, Fetke said.

The police report further stated that the assailant did not attempt to steal money or personal property, but simply ran off following the attack.