Truck With Confederate Flag Linked To Potential Hate Crime In Harford: Police

DARLINGTON, MD — Troopers are looking for two men and a truck after a possible hate crime was reported in Harford County. Police said that two white men in a black pickup truck with a Confederate flag ran a black driver off the road on US 1, assaulted him and taunted the driver with racial slurs.

The victim was driving a dark maroon Ford Focus on US 1/Conowingo Road north of Castleton Road when a pickup truck pulled up behind him and honked, authorities said. The incident occurred during the afternoon of Saturday, May 27.

The truck came up next to the Focus, at which point the duo inside lowered a window and yelled out racial slurs, according to officials.

They sped up and cut off the Focus, whose driver braked and swerved; as a result, his car hydroplaned and hit guardrails on both sides of the road, police said.

When he stopped to look at the damage, the men in the truck reportedly stopped and taunted him.

Police said the victim followed the truck on US 1 north to the Conowingo Swimming Pool — in the 4900 block of Conowingo Road — where both vehicles stopped.

The two men in the truck got out of their vehicle, addressed the Focus driver using racial epithets, pushed him to the ground and engaged in a physical fight, the victim told officials.

"...he said a fight ensued and he defended himself, apparently subduing both suspects," according to police.

The two men proceeded to get back into their truck and drive south on US 1, police said.

Authorities said the Focus driver did not require medical attention.

Suspect Information

The suspects were described as white men in their mid to late 20s who were approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and 180 pounds.

• One had some facial hair and was wearing a black t-shirt, blue jeans and a baseball hat.
• The other was wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans and a baseball hat as well, police said.

The suspect vehicle was described as a black pickup truck with a Confederate flag mounted in its long bed. Officials said the truck could have a dent on the front right bumper.

The victim was described as a 20-year-old black man from southeastern Pennsylvania. His identity is being protected for safety reasons, police said.

The victim and his father contacted Maryland State Police at the Bel Air barrack the evening of the incident, which authorities report may be classified as a hate crime.

"The assault and taunting of a Pennsylvania man who was driving through Harford County earlier this week is being investigated as a potential hate crime," Maryland State Police said in a statement on Thursday, June 1. "Troopers are asking for the public’s help in identifying the suspects involved."

Have Tips?

Anyone who was near US 1 north of Castleton Road or by the entrance to the Conowingo Swimming Pool on Saturday, May 27, is asked to contact Maryland State Police investigators at 410-996-7813.

Callers may remain anonymous.

Have you been a victim to or have witnessed a hate crime? Tell your story here.

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