Florida Man Faces Hate Crime Charges for Threatening to Kill African-American Family, Burn Their House Down
A Florida man has been accused of trying to break into his neighbor’s home, spewing racial slurs and threatening to “burn down the house,” according to police, Click Orlando reported.
The South Daytona Police Department arrested 34-year-old Gary Dragon. Officers responded to the scene where they found Dragon yelling outside of the home for the homeowner to come out and fight him, according to the department.
Police says the victim said Dragon was attempted to break into the home by kicking the front door repeatedly. This caused the door handle and the door to become loose. The victim says Dragon also threatened to burn down the house and murder his family according to a charging affidavit.
Dragon told police he was mad over a photo posted on social media by the victim that had a caption about him being a “child predator,” the department said. While police were talking to Dragon, he said he was going to “burn down the house,” the charging affidavit said.
Officers said Dragon attempted to flew during his arrest. Dragon now faces charges of attempted burglary with assault/battery, resisting an officer without violence and committing a first-degree felony with prejudice.