THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2006
Rat Nailed To Cross Hate Crime, Police Say
Police found a dead rat nailed to one of nine wooden crosses someone erected on the front lawn of a Des Plaines church.
A woman discovered the crosses at 8:20 a.m. June 6 in front of United Evangelical Church, 2247 University St., as she walked to work. She told police they were not there the previous night when she passed the church at 11 p.m.
According to the police report, officers classified the incident as a hate crime. "It fit the criteria as a hate crime," said Sgt. Nick Trentafeles. He explained it was a disorderly conduct act involving religion and a church.
The crosses measured about one by two feet in size and were pounded into the ground with a hammer. The rat had one nail hammered through it, attaching it to one of the crosses. Trentafeles added that the crosses were put into the ground right side up.
Police are still investigating the incident and are not yet classifying it as connected with Tuesday, June 6, or 666. "We don't know," Trentafeles said of the connection. "We don't know if there are any problems with the church, a parishioner, or even a neighbor problem."
No one answered telephone calls to the church and the voice mailbox was full and could not accept messages.