Police Say Man Used Mower to Cut Slur

AP ^ | 11/6/06 | Staff

[Millee]

Police have arrested a Burlington County man for using a lawn mower to cut a racial slur in the grass in an open field.

Dennis E. Westphal, 19, of Edgewater Park turned himself in to the Edgewater Park Township police on Thursday, a day after authorities issued a warrant for his arrest, according to a statement from the Burlington County Prosecutor's Office.

Police were initially alerted to the incident on Aug. 31 when a local resident called them, said Jack Smith, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office.

The racial slur, which was cut into a field of tall grass on township-owned property, was also spotted by someone in a plane flying overhead who then alerted police.

Westphal was charged with bias intimidation and harassment and released on his own recognizance pending a court hearing on Nov. 15.

No telephone listing could be found for Westphal.

[Millee]

Westphal was charged with bias intimidation

[Toby06]

Rock salt works so much better, and it's harder to get caught.

Fertilizer is another way to do this.

Gas is fast too, especially if you light it up.

[300magnum]

Don't help 'em, ya dadgum hoodlum. ;-)

[Eva]

I remember back in the late sixties when someone painted a RR tressel in North Phila. with, "Marcia Black (I think that was the last name) is a N----." She was a black news reader, and the Black Panthers were upset because they said she looked and sounded too white.

[Millee]

I'm sure the ACLU will quickly fly to his defence. /S

[JamesP81]

Westphal was charged with bias intimidation and harassment

Sounds like a thought crime to me. He shouldn't be charged with a crime for what he thinks. He should be charged for vandalism, though, as that is an action, and not just a thought.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

Sounds like a thought crime to me. He shouldn't be charged with a crime for what he thinks.

Sorta of like wearing a t-shirt on to a plane stating:
"Al Queda Forever!" Something like that? As long as its thought, no action?

[BufordP]

Police: Man Mowed Racial Slur Into Grass

...Westphal has been charged with 4th degree bias intimidation as well as harassment and has been released on his own recognizance...

It's not like he's being charged with a felony. I think he's being sufficiently charged for being a grasshole.

[#1CTYankee]

More info on it here
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/local/15917662.htm?source=rss&channel=inquirer_local

"N" word used

Lot across the street from a biracial teenager, police said.

biracial teenager? that's a new one on me.

[snarks_when_bored]

If this guy has nothing better to do, let him cut some grass on a road gang for a few months. What a putz.

[cowboyway]

Burlington County man for using a lawn mower to cut a racial slur in the grass in an open field.

You shouldn't ever use the n-word, you racist cracker red-neck honky.

[JamesP81]

"Al Queda Forever!" Something like that? As long as its thought, no action?

Going around acting like a terrorist is definitely an action. We don't charge people with crimes because we don't like what they think.

[#1CTYankee]

"If this guy has nothing better to do, let him cut some grass on a road gang for a few months. What a putz."

Agreed, mowed it on township owned property? what a maroon.

[Tulsa Ramjet]

"Going around acting like a terrorist"

not acting, just thinking. If apprehending, you could just say that you are following the Koran. The same book Bush put in the White House. What's the problem?

The guy mowing engaged in an action and by design, projected it out to others. What if he had a billboard sign with pornography shown, testament of a lifestyle he thinks is okay, and wishes others to know about it?

[BufordP]

We don't charge people with crimes because we don't like what they think...

...or spraypaint on a garage door...or mow in the grass across the street. Yeah.

[HOTTIEBOY]

My highschool letters were ASH.

"Someone" snuck on to the football field of our hometown rivals the night before the big game and burned a big "A" into the grass with gasoline.

I don't have anymore information to divulge as to the whereabouts of the perpetrators, but the incident got statewide news coverage.

[HOTTIEBOY]

[processing please hold]

What was the racial slur? I read the article and didn't see it.

[processing please hold]

Nevermind....

[Toby06]

Back in high school, "someone" used fertilizer to write out a big 1984 (coincidentally he year of my graduation) on the hill by the lacrosse field where everyone driving through the center of town could see it.