NEW CASTLE, DE — A 65-year-old man is facing a felony hate crime charge after New Castle County police said a parking dispute escalated into threats and comments about another person’s national origin.
Officers responded at approximately 6:21 p.m. Sept. 13 to the unit block of Chaddwyck Boulevard in the Chaddwyck community for a reported neighborhood altercation, according to police.
Police said officers contacted Bryant Smith, 65, and determined that he had allegedly backed his vehicle into another person’s vehicle during a parking dispute.
Investigators said the dispute escalated into a verbal confrontation during which Smith allegedly threatened to seriously harm the other person.
While officers were speaking with Smith, police allege he made comments about the other person’s national origin and indicated that the person’s national origin was a reason for his actions.
Smith was taken into custody and transported to New Castle County police headquarters, according to police.
Police said Smith subsequently encountered an officer who shares the same national origin as the person involved in the earlier dispute. Investigators allege Smith made additional comments about the officer’s national origin and the circumstances surrounding his arrest.
Later that evening, while Smith remained in custody, police allege he resisted another officer’s efforts to detain him by grabbing the officer and refusing to be placed in handcuffs.
Smith was charged with one felony count of hate crime and misdemeanor counts of terroristic threatening, offensive touching of a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest.
He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 11 and released after posting $1,750 secured bail, according to police.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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