AnIllinois man has been charged with a hate crime after allegedly yelling “anti-Mexican slurs” at a Hispanic motorcyclist while chasing him with an ice pick.
Joseph Zens, 72, climbed out of his car to shout racist abuse at the biker, who had a Mexican flag on his vehicle, according to Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO.)
Mr Zens had been driving his Hyundai 4x4 in the village of Gurnee on Wednesday when he abruptly changed lanes, cutting off the 57-year-old motorcyclist.
As the biker attempted to obtain the licence number of the Hyundai, Zens “began yelling anti-Mexican racial slurs/expletives at the victim and told him to go back to his country,” LCSO said in a statement.
The office added: “Zens then retrieved an ice pick from his vehicle and began chasing the victim with it, continuing to yell racial slurs and racial expletives.
“The victim was able to get onto his motorcycle and move away before being struck with the ice pick. The victim then called 911 for police assistance.”
Officers went to Zens’s home and found the ice pick in his car. He was arrested and taken to Lake County prison.
Zens was charged with a felony hate crime and misdemeanour aggravated assault and faces up to three years in prison if convicted.
“This type of hateful conduct will never be tolerated in Lake County,” said state attorney Michael Nerheim.
Sheriff John Idleburg added: “Hate has absolutely no place in Lake County. Being victimised because of the colour of one’s skin, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, or any other protected classification is completely unacceptable.”
Zens has been remanded in custody on a $15,000 (£12,300) bond ahead of his next court appearance on 28 August.
