Hate crime: Racist Hispanics beat Black couple with baseball bats

MOLINE, Ill. Two teens are behind bars tonight. Police are still looking for 3 others for what they say was a racially motivated attack on 2 black teens.

Officers were called to the 100 block of Fourth Avenue just after 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Neighbors reported a large group of men were using baseball bats to beat another man.

Witnesses told police the victims were walking near the intersection of Second Street and Fourth Avenue when they were attacked.

The attackers were reportedly a group of young men armed with bricks, sticks and large pieces of wood. The attackers allegedly yelled racial slurs as they chased the couple.

Police say neighbors who heard the attack came to the aid of the victims, yelling at the suspects and causing them to run from the area.

"The male victim was battered and had his keys and a rosary taken. The female victim had her cell phone stolen," according to a statement from police.

Police say the male victim is 19 and the female victim is 17.
Alfredo Gutierrez, 17, was arrested by Moline Police. He was charged with aggravated robbery, mob action and a hate crime.

An arrest warrant was also issued for 18-year-old Alberto Alba, 18-year-old Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. and 17-year-old Alberto Rosas. The warrants charge each of the men with the same offenses as Gutierrez.

Police say bond for each of the suspects is set at $50,000.

One man who has lived in the neighborhood for years says he saw the attack and wasn't surprised but he's way too afraid to talk about it.

"He's afraid that the teenagers will come against him and retaliate. He says there's clear racism between the younger community of Hispanics and African Americans."

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