Thread: OR - Hate-crime suspect arrested, placed on immigration hold

Hate-crime suspect arrested, placed on immigration hold

By Mara Stine

The Gresham Outlook, Jan 11, 2011

A Gresham man accused of harassing and threatening a local Muslim woman is behind bars for allegedly violating an anti-stalking order.

Gresham police arrested Martin Cervantes-Gracida, 30, of Gresham at his home in the 17400 block of Southeast Stark Street at 6:37 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 9.

He also is being held on a United States Immigration hold at the Multnomah County Inverness Jail.

The arrest comes a month after the alleged victim, a 52-year-old woman who lives in the same apartment complex, was granted a protective order against the man.

A Muslim advocacy organization – The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – also requested on Dec. 21 that the FBI investigate a series of alleged hate crimes that led to the anti-stalking order being issued.

FBI Special Agent Craig Mueller is investigating the case after the woman alleged local police did not take seriously her complaints of verbal threats and physical intimidation.

According to court documents, the threats began in early November when the suspect, Cervantes-Gracida, reportedly pushed the woman, trapping her with his body against a wall in their apartment complex’s laundry room.

Two weeks later, he allegedly threatened to shoot her dog and rape her “while you pray with your head on the ground,â€

Have more jails and prisons constructed because we are going to need them. This will also increase employment positions that undocumented aliens will not be able to obtain!