Violence followed use of racial slurs in 2 Valpo incidents
By erin Guerra Post-Tribune correspondent June 20, 2012 1:20PM
Manuel Chavez. | Provided Photo~Sun-Times Media
Updated: June 20, 2012 6:53PM
VALPARAISO — An 18-year-old on house arrest, with four unknown friends, reportedly attacked a 16-year-old acquaintance with a wooden baseball bat and took the bike he was riding.
A 15-year-old male with the victim tried to break up the fight, but another of the men struck him in the face, he said. The bike he was riding — both bicycles had been borrowed — was stolen as well, according to the police report.
The altercation took place at about 11:15 p.m. Tuesday in the area of Northview Drive and Campbell Street.
The 16-year-old knew Manuel Chavez, 18, of Valparaiso, from school and the older teen had not liked him since the fall of 2011, when he called Chavez’s friend by a racial slur. He said Chavez referred to that incident before leaving the scene Tuesday.
The 16-year-old was treated at Porter hospital for lacerations on his face and back. The 15-year-old refused treatment.
Chavez, who denied knowing about the incident or who else was involved, was arrested at his home on a battery charge. Despite his being on house arrest, officers noted they saw him downtown several times Tuesday night.
An unknown man reportedly fired a gun, with shrapnel causing an injury, at about 12:05 a.m. Wednesday after another man called him by another racial slur, police said.
Two men and one woman were drinking alcohol on a porch in the 300 block of Locust Court when they started talking to, and eventually argued with, a man and woman sitting across the street. Before the man and woman walked away, the man grabbed something from his waistband and they heard a loud bang and saw what appeared to be a muzzle flash. One of the men from the group that had been drinking was struck in the arm by what appeared to be shrapnel, although police could not find any other evidence at the scene that a gun had been fired.
