North Tonawanda, NY (WBEN) North Tonawanda Police are investigating the video that led to the resignation of a state senate aide.
Police say four juveniles reported that they were accosted by two adults after they accidently kicked a lawn sign and racial slurs were used against them by the adults. They explained that they had been followed and yelled at with vulgarities and racial slurs on two separate occasions while walking to and from 7Eleven on E. Robinson St. and Division St. and had cell phone video of the incidents. "The (adults) went outside and saw one of their signs was kicked over, had some words with the kids, they left, he proceeded to follow them down the street in his car, shouting obscenities and telling them to respect his property," says Capt. Thomas Krantz. "When the (kids) returned, they said they didn't say anything, but the homeowner says the kids yelled at him, he followed them and confronted them. He and his girlfriend got out of their car and yelled at the kids, swearing at them, and they left." Krantz says one of the kids claimed the female adult grabbed one of the female juveniles by the shirt in an attempt to take her to their car during the second incident.
Krantz says responding officers spoke to both groups and did not feel they had enough to make an arrest and filed an incident report for further follow up if necessary. Krantz says detectives spoke with neighbors who heard and saw the juveniles in the area and confirmed that there was a lot of screaming between the adults and the juveniles. Additional video depicting the altercations was also obtained and supported charging the two adults with Harassment in the second degree, which is a violation. There would be separate count for each juvenile, for a total of four counts to each adult. "He should have stayed on the property to yell at the kids, he should have called police," says Krantz noting this happened within a 20 minute span.
Krantz says the investigation did not reveal anything that supported the allegations of any racial slurs, except for the juveniles involved saying that it was said, but that is not supported by the video/audio evidence. He adds there was no physical contact between any of the parties involved and that was supported by video surveillance. "The harassment charges stem from the fact that the adults followed the juveniles in a public place with intent to harass and alarm them," says Krantz.
Krantz says no charges have been filed yet because parents are not cooperating. "They have to come and sign the paperwork which they're not doing. They're not happy with the investigation," says Krantz. He says once they sign the paperwork, charges will be filed.