Graffiti leads to hate crime arrest
Monday, Sep. 29, 2008
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By ROBERT NAPPER - HERALD STAFF WRITER

MANATEE - A man accused of writing discriminatory graffiti against immigrants on a sign and posting it near a church retreat complex has been arrested on a hate crime charge, according to a Manatee County Sheriff's Office report.

Sheriff's deputies arrested Williams H. Garrison, 61, Friday after a witness reported seeing him write the graffiti on a Florida Immigrant Coalition sign, which over the weekend held a 160-member conference at Christian Retreat, in the 1200 block of Glory Way Boulevard.

The witness told deputies Garrison then took the sign and put in on property next to the Christian Retreat. Florida Immigrant Coalition members told deputies they were "upset and fearful" after seeing the signs.


Deputies charged Garrison with criminal mischief with hate crime enhancements allowed by law, according to reports. He was being held in the Manatee County jail on $2,400 bond.

http://www.bradenton.com/news/breaking_ ... 17813.html