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Alleged hate crime in Pioneer Park
Black man reportedly beaten by two white supremacists

by Daniel DeBolt

Two young white men were arrested last weekend after beating an African American man downtown in Pioneer Park while shouting white supremacist slogans and making Nazi salutes, according to Mountain View police.

"This is white power!" one of the suspects reportedly shouted. A dagger was held over the victim, identified only as a 19-year-old Mountain View resident, as he was beaten and his hair was pulled, police said.

Jonathan Rhodes, 18, and Joseph Krueger, 21, were arrested soon after the incident, which occurred at about 10 p.m. Saturday. Police said Krueger is a Mountain View resident, while Rhodes is a resident of the small Central Valley town of Ceres.

According to police, the two suspects, reportedly workers at a nearby construction site, came to the park to meet a girlfriend, with whom one of the suspects was having an argument. Things turned confrontational, and an initial victim, a white man, was beaten by the suspects before fleeing on foot, police reported.

That was when the second victim, a black man, confronted the suspects about their behavior and the attack began.

Police say both victims sustained minor injuries and declined medical attention.

Rhodes was booked on charges of battery and commission of a hate crime. Krueger, the Mountain View resident, was booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a dagger and commission of a hate crime. Both face up to nine years in prison if convicted. They are being held in county jail on $20,000 bail.

Posted by anonamous, a resident of another community, on Mar 11, 2008 at 12:32 pm

This hate crime wasnt even hate at all it was simply a fight that was blown out of praportion jonathan and joe were always nice, respectful well manered gentlmen