Couple arrested after fight
HATE CRIME CHARGES


June 12, 2008Recommend (6)

By BRIAN STANLEY bstanley@scn1.com
JOLIET TOWNSHIP -- Police say a couple's concern over illegal aliens led them to commit illegal actions Tuesday.

Ronald P. Kurecki, 41, and Erica M. Kurecki , 31, of 1703 S. Chicago St. were arrested and booked into the county jail on charges of battery and committing a hate crime following an alleged confrontation with four Hispanic men, three of whom live in the same apartment complex.

Will County police said a fight began around 6:45 p.m. The four men were working on a red car in the rear parking area when the Kureckis' 9-year-old son approached and handed them a letter.

"The letter called them illegal aliens; that they shouldn't be working on cars in the area and they were not welcome in the area," according to reports.

The victims told police the letter was written by Ronald Kurecki.

The men tore up the letter and attempted to hand the pieces back to the boy who "attempted to hit" one of them, police said.

When the man slapped the boy's hand away, his parents rushed over and began a verbal argument that turned physical when Erica Kurecki "threw a beer into the face of one of the Hispanics," reports said.

Ronald Kurecki "began throwing punches" at the four men, who fought back and struck him in the chin. Witnesses reported the Kurecki family continued yelling racial slurs during the fight.

Police arrived and separated the combatants.

Following interviews with those involved and witnesses, the couple was arrested. Ronald Kurecki was treated for his injuries at Silver Cross Hospital before being booked into the county jail.

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