Sentenced Man Yelled Racial Slurs, Chased Victim With Bat

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A homeless man was sentenced for a hate crime that happened at Potomac Yards shopping center in Alexandria in June.

On July 28, John Michael Ready, 26, pleaded guilty to simple assault in which he chose the African-American victim by race. He later admitted after his arrest that the incident was racially-motivated.

He was sentenced in Alexandria General District Court to 12 months with nine months suspended on condition of one year supervised provision and two years with no new charges or convictions. He has already been released under supervision of a probation officer. Ready is barred from contacting the victim.

On June 14, the defendant pulled up next to the victim on Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1), according to the Alexandria Commonwealth's Attorney. He asked the victim to roll his window down, then yelled a racial slur. The victim headed into the Potomac Yards shopping center, and Ready followed.

After parking near the victim, Ready pulled a baseball bat out of his trunk and began chasing the victim's car. A witness confirmed that Ready attempted to hit the car, but the victim managed to evade the attack. The victim was not physically injured.

Police arrived soon afterward and arrested Ready. Police say he continued to make racist remarks about African Americans.

Image via Tim Evanson/Flickr, used under Creative Commons