Post by Moon Seeker on Jul 23, 2009 19:47:24 GMT -5
City Leaders Meet To Address Recent Crimes
POSTED: 4:51 pm MDT July 23, 2009
UPDATED: 5:20 pm MDT July 23, 2009
A community is fighting back after the beatings of several Native American men.
Officials from Grants and the Navajo Nation met Thursday to figure out the first step in making their city safer.
"We are definitely concerned," Sheree Peshlaki, who works with the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, said.
The group has been helping the victims of last month's beatings.
"As they came into the resource center we were meeting with them at, they came in with bruises on their faces," Peshlaki said.
At Thursday's hearing, community members addressed the commission with their concerns.
They said they want to know whether racial discrimination is becoming a problem in Grants and whether the beatings are evidence of it.
Police tried to reassure them.
"We have not found any evidence of it being a hate crime or anything of the sort," Grants Police Chief Steve Sene said.
The commission disagreed.
Members said an FBI agent helping with the investigation told them the crimes were racially motivated.
One issue both the city and commission agree needs fixing is the homeless problem in town.
"They have been sort of easy targets because of their condition at the time of beatings," Grants Mayor Joe Murrietta said.
The city said its goal is to educate people, teach them their rights and help get them off the streets.
The city also wants to get the attackers off the streets.
Police said they have already arrested one suspect.
Shawn Longoria is facing several charges, including aggravated battery.
Copyright 2009 by KOAT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
www.koat.com/news/20160224/detail.html
POSTED: 4:51 pm MDT July 23, 2009
UPDATED: 5:20 pm MDT July 23, 2009
A community is fighting back after the beatings of several Native American men.
Officials from Grants and the Navajo Nation met Thursday to figure out the first step in making their city safer.
"We are definitely concerned," Sheree Peshlaki, who works with the Navajo Nation Human Rights Commission, said.
The group has been helping the victims of last month's beatings.
"As they came into the resource center we were meeting with them at, they came in with bruises on their faces," Peshlaki said.
At Thursday's hearing, community members addressed the commission with their concerns.
They said they want to know whether racial discrimination is becoming a problem in Grants and whether the beatings are evidence of it.
Police tried to reassure them.
"We have not found any evidence of it being a hate crime or anything of the sort," Grants Police Chief Steve Sene said.
The commission disagreed.
Members said an FBI agent helping with the investigation told them the crimes were racially motivated.
One issue both the city and commission agree needs fixing is the homeless problem in town.
"They have been sort of easy targets because of their condition at the time of beatings," Grants Mayor Joe Murrietta said.
The city said its goal is to educate people, teach them their rights and help get them off the streets.
The city also wants to get the attackers off the streets.
Police said they have already arrested one suspect.
Shawn Longoria is facing several charges, including aggravated battery.
Copyright 2009 by KOAT.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
www.koat.com/news/20160224/detail.html