Jacob Harshbarger, a 32-year-old resident of San Diego’s North Park, was beaten in an alley behind his home early Sunday morning while walking his dogs — all because, he believes, his three assailants thought he was gay. (He is.) Wearing a “T-shirt with a gay sexual innuendo printed on it,” Harshbarger was attacked after one of the men read it and began calling him a “fucking faggot.” The beat down, which included kicking him to the ground that left him with a concussion, black eye, and 13 stitches in his lips, featured a soundtrack of “homo” and “come over here and kick the fairy.” There is a clue: a cell phone was left behind at the scene, potentially identifying one of the attackers. And yet: The responding San Diego police officer, J. Hebdon, isn’t sure this is a hate crime (because Harshbarger’s hoodie was zipped up, thus blocking the gay text on his shirt), but a matter of “being in the wrong place at the wrong time.” As in being near your house at the same time as being gay?
Below, Harshbarger takes us on a tour of the blood spatter.
[SDGLN]
Rick
“Below, Harshbarger takes us on a door of the blood spatter.” HUH?
edgyguy1426
tour I’d guess, but that would require a proofreader…
Jack
So, what part of this isn’t a hate crime?
Brian Miller
California has a hate crime law. But of course, for it to work, the prosecutor has to use it. They typically don’t.
This is a good example of why “trusting the government to protect us” is such a bad idea. Along with the noose on the EQCA door, of course.
Aunt Sharon
The judgement of the responding officer is of no consequence; it’s how the DA’s office chooses to prosecute that counts.
Jacob, you’re a sweetheart, and I’m sorry this happened to you. I hope for a speedy recovery, psychic as well as physical, and that your dogs weren’t too traumatized.
Keep a stiff upper lip. Or maybe not.
seanny
o0o00o0oh thats soooooo mean i feel so bad for you Jake. i would sue them big time. use the Rodny King beating as an example of a discriminative fight. i would
Manos G
You just watched YET another attack on a gay person, a human, and all you notice is a spelling error? Jacob, thank you for bringing light to this because unfortunately this happens more than people actually know. I wish you recovery and hopefully your story will open some eyes………..
Ronbo
Godspeed for equality. Anything less is accepting this shite. Pres. Obama, are you listening? Have you become deaf to our pleas? May God have mercy on your bigoted soul!
Stay strong, Jacob, we are family.
Brian Miller
@Aunt Sharon:
The judgement of the responding officer is of no consequence; it’s how the DA’s office chooses to prosecute that counts.
If the police don’t care enough to use enough resources to find the perp(s), the DA’s office won’t even get involved.
How sad that this overreliance on the Democratic party and associated laws has reduced us to literally BEGGING government to protect us.
Shouldn’t we be doing more to protect ourselves?