An attempted burglary in Eagle Heights Sunday involved a group of men wearing swastikas, but police are still investigating whether the incident was a hate crime.
According to a source who asked to remain anonymous, a group of men wearing black paramilitary outfits bearing World War II swastika flags and pseudo-Christian insignia went \pounding and kicking on doors"" in an apartment building in Eagle Heights around 1 a.m. Sunday.
UW Police Sgt. Tamara Kowalski confirmed that account, but added there is no evidence yet that those involved engaged in any action that could constitute a hate crime. She said the men were actually targeting a white male acquaintance who lives in the building.
""We're looking at every angle possible, but at this point we have no proof to show that it was racially motivated or indeed a hate crime,"" Kowalski said. ""But we won't discount anything until we have all the facts.""
UW Police Lt. Eric Holen said the charge of hate crime is always tacked onto an existing charge as a penalty enhancer, rather than a charge by itself. Wisconsin state statutes classify hate crimes as those motivated by perceptions of factors like the victim's race, religion or sexual orientation.
So far police have tentatively charged three suspects with attempted burglary while armed, disorderly conduct while armed and carrying a concealed weapon. Two others were tentatively charged with party to a crime.
While police continue to investigate, University Housing has no plans to install locks on the outer doors of the apartment buildings, according to Jan Sternbach, University Housing manager of community services.
""Three people that were home all called the police immediately when they realized something was happening,"" Sternbach said. ""And so I really feel like that's what's going to keep our community ultimately safe is that kind of ... shared responsibility.\
