Crime & Safety

Pasco Sheriff To Pursue Hate Crime Charges Against Holiday Man

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is pursuing federal hate crime charges against a Holiday man for harassing a Middle Eastern family.

HOLIDAY, FL -- The Pasco County Sheriff's Office is pursuing federal hate crime charges against a Holiday man for harassing a Middle Eastern family in his Holiday neighborhood.

David Allen Boileau, 58, was arrested Wednesday, Jan. 23, after Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco said he burglarized the home of a family with four small children that live in the same neighborhood.

"It's absolutely disgusting," said Nocco during a press conference.
Nocco said Boileau of Pinehurst Drive, moved into the neighborhood after the Middle Eastern family had lived there for three years.

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The sheriff said he admitted he entered the home through an unlocked door but said he didn't take anything. He then said he rifled through the family's mailbox and saw some immigration paperwork. He was confronted by a neighbor who called the sheriff's office.

The homeowner was not home at the time but told deputies that she is missing a purse containing credit and gift cards.

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Prior to his arrest, Nocco said Boileau made disparaging comments about the Iraqi family to his neighbors.

One neighbor reported him saying, "The U.S. needs to get rid of all of them." He also reportedly said, "We'll get rid of them one way or another."

The victim said he also threw nails at her brother-in-law's car.

Upon his arrest, deputies said he expressed his dislike for people of Middle Eastern descent and said, if he doesn't get rid of them, Trump will handle it.

Nocco said his office is pursuing state and federal hate crime enhancements to the burglary charges and has referred the case to the FBI.

Image via Pasco Sheriff

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