FBI Investigating Racist Graffiti
Washington Post Staff Writers
Thursday, April 12, 2007; Page SM02
Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) is asking FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III to investigate a series of racist graffiti hate crimes in Charles County.
"Families deserve to know their neighborhoods are safe and free from intolerance and discrimination," Mikulski said in a statement released this week.
County and federal officials say the FBI is already involved, having been part of a task force for months.
"I believe we're doing everything that's appropriate in this case," said Special Agent William Chase, who's in charge of the FBI's Baltimore office. Chase said one or two agents in his satellite Annapolis office have been assisting the Charles County Sheriff's Office in investigating a series of incidents since last year in which racist graffiti have been scrawled on Charles roadways, houses, cars, church signs and playground equipment.
Maj. Joseph C. Montminy Jr. said his Sheriff's Office has received help from the FBI's Annapolis office since September. "We welcome any help that they bring to us," he said.
The Sheriff's Office has made several arrests in the most recent cases and to date has charged 15 people, including 14 juveniles, with hate crimes. "We are making progress" in the cases, Montminy said Tuesday.
Many of the incidents, going back to last year, remain unsolved. Sheriff's deputies have not been able to connect those arrested with many of the crimes from last year. The graffiti have included "KKK," "white power" and similar phrases.
A spokeswoman with Mikulski's office said Tuesday that the senator was aware the FBI was part of the task force. By asking Mueller for an investigation, "she is trying to raise the level of visibility," the spokeswoman said.
According to Mikulski's statement, a group of constituents, including the leadership of the Charles County NAACP, has been in contact with her about the hate crimes.
Chesapeake Gets Funds
The National Park Service will make $739,000 available for the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Program and Watertrails Network this year.
The funding, announced Tuesday by Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.) and Mikulski, includes money allocated to implement the new Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail.
"The Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network is unique because it brings volunteers, parks, historic sites, wildlife refuges, museums and water trails together to ensure that visitors can experience the fullness of life along the Chesapeake Bay," Cardin, a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, said in a statement.
