BELLEVUE, Ill. – A Bellevue man has been indicted on a hate crime charge by a Peoria County grand jury.
46-year-old Charles Gathard was indicted on felony hate crime one count Tuesday.
25 News reports that Gathard, on the night of August 6th, allegedly shouted slurs at his black neighbors, threw sticks at the house, threatened to burn down their house, and told them to “go back to your village.”
A police report says video evidence backs up the story from the neighbors.
Gathard was taken into custody the next day after he reportedly tried to barricade himself in a bedroom when sheriff’s deputies arrived.
Gathard told police he was drunk and did not remember what happened, and claims his comments were taken out of context, as well as overdosing on medication and wanting to die.
He is due back in court Thursday.
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