(CBS DETROIT) — Macomb County District Attorney Peter Lucido said two incidents of unreported hate crimes occurred a day after he introduced a new hate crimes unit.
One of Friday’s hate crimes at the intersection of 15 Mile Road and Dodge Park in Sterling Heights.
Lucido said 62-year-old Mohammed Meah’s comments made to police indicated that he committed a hate crime.
“We charged him with a hate crime because of his statements. These statements are not presumed to be objective,” Lucido said.
Meah has been charged with intent to murder, which is a possible life sentence. He has also been charged with ethnic intimidation and failure to stop at the scene of a personal injury.
To the north, in Clinton Township, also on Friday, some other crime was committed.
“This was another crime that we consider a hate crime,” Lucido said.
At Walmart on Hall Road, 42-year-old Vincent Moceri allegedly yelled racial slurs and threatened to kill a man. Police said he pulled out two knives.
“And there’s no provocation as to why this happened, nor is there any justification,” Lucido said.
Moceri charged with ethnic intimidation and two counts of assault with a harmful weapon.
Ironically, the hate crimes occurred the day after the Macomb County District Attorney’s Office unveiled its new hate crimes unit.
“Because we have a melting pot of varied individuals, ethnicities, and backgrounds, why not take the initiative and accomplish the task we are accused of doing here?And we want to have the team to make sure that the prosecutions take place there and to the citizens,” Lucido said.
Lucido said there will be zero tolerance for hate crimes and those caught committing hate crimes will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
“Make no mistake about it. There will be no hatred here in Macomb County.”