Victim cries political hate crime Alleged vandal a retired Army officer

The News Enterprise ^ | March 9, 2010 | Bob White

[cquiggy]

ELIZABETHTOWN – An Elizabethtown man says his truck was vandalized in a politically motivated act that he believes borders on being a hate crime.

Police charged the man connected with destroying the paint of Cherry Wood Drive resident Kenneth Bunting’s pickup with criminal mischief – a felony, but not a criminal allegation of hate or prejudice.

Reacting to a surveillance video image of the vandalism, Elizabethtown police arrested retired Army Lt. Col. Thomas James North on Wednesday afternoon on a Class D felony charge of criminal mischief, first-degree, for allegedly marring paint on Bunting’s truck.

According to a warrant for North’s arrest, the Jersey Court resident was videotaped pouring thinner on Bunting’s truck. The chemical removed clear coat, paint and primer, exposing bare metal, according to police.

Bunting said he didn’t know why he was being victimized until, among damage caused by the thinner, he found a teabag in the center of the area destroyed.

Bunting is a proud and open supporter of the national grassroots, anti-tax effort known as the Tea Party.

“I have a Tea Party bumper sticker on my bumper,” Bunting said.

It wasn’t until police caught up to North that Bunting even heard of North, but Bunting said research he conducted afterward made it apparent to him that North’s political views were just the opposite of his conservative Tea Party stance.

With politics having a possible role in the alleged mischief, Bunting said he wants North prosecuted federally. That likely won’t happen.

“The FBI didn’t want anything to do with it,” Bunting said.

[cquiggy]

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[Parley Baer]

Guilty!

[iowamark]

According to North’s financial statements made in court filings, he draws $4,500 in retirement pay and $1,800 in disability. Bunting said he doesn’t understand why a man with a secure income and nice home would be causing such mischief.

Because he's a hater for Obama?

[Frantzie]

I drove past a home that I know has a county worker who has a county Prius they take home. Big Obama supporters and active in Dem polictics. Nice house but not incredible or that special. I drove past today and they had 2 Porsches. They have a new BMW 3-series. Govt work and fraud pays well.

[a fool in paradise]

There are no hate crimes laws protecting political beliefs. Only religious and sexual beliefs.

Hate crimes laws serve to set some animals more equal than others. It just so HAPPENS that they are liberal special interest groups.

Now you know.

[tcrlaf]

LIFE LESSON:
Hate Crimes are only Hate Crimes when a Democrat says it is...

[equalitybeforethelaw]

I am gonna make a wild guess and speculate that LtCol North did not spend his career in the Army in any of the combat arms. I sense a very disposable support flunkie.

[The KG9 Kid]

The retired Lt. Col was on disability plus his pension.

Sounds to me like the Army shitcanned him. I wonder why.

[El Gato]

I am gonna make a wild guess and speculate that LtCol North did not spend his career in the Army in any of the combat arms. I sense a very disposable support flunkie.

We'll probably find out he was on the staff of General Wesley Clark. Maybe as junior dog robber?