KOLD News 13 live, local and late breaking-FBI takes over hate crime investigation

FBI takes over hate crime investigation

TUCSON, AZ (KOLD) - A hazardous materials call on the northwest side Sunday morning turned out to also be a hate crime, officials said.

Now, FBI agents based out of Phoenix have taken over the investigation.

Graffitti left near or at the house the attack took place is consistent with a hate crime, FBI officials said Monday. They would not elaborate on the type of graffitti that was left. 

Tests are being done on the three animal caracsses that were left at the residence.

The FBI has not disclosed a suspect at this time.
________________________________________________________________

The following is J.D. Wallace's story from Sunday. He interviewed a man who happened to inhale some of the deadly chlorine cloud:  

By J.D. Wallace - bio | email

"There was a policeman at the door with a gas mask on who said, 'grab a few things, get in your car, get out of here and evacuate," said neighbor Roger Lake.

"We do have detectives here at the scene who are investigating this particular incident and we are treating it as a crime," said Pima County Sheriff Deputy Dawn Barkman.

"All I know is it was some kind of chlorine and I don't know what else," said Carley Riggs, who lives across the street from the neighborhood.  "It was like coming over like a wall coming over the house."

He says the cloud of gas came into his home.

"I'd left the back door open and got a bit whiff of whatever it was, gas of some type, and it burned, I got up and went outside," he said.

Once he walked across the street, he said that the deputy wouldn't let him go home, and that an ambulance took him to a hospital.

"The ambulance driver himself told me, he said, we need to get you in and check you out 'cause I was getting excited.  I know, I get excited," Riggs chuckled.

He returned home about seven hours later.

"I don't feel like I can run no foot race very far but I'm doing okay.  My chest is a little bit on the tight side," he said.

Detectives said that the target home had not only chlorine tablets and a liquid in the front yard, but also dead animals such as birds, and perhaps a cat and a rabbit near the front door. 

Spray foam sealed the door along with the garage door so that they couldn't be opened.  An incendiary device was found in front, and a chemical dispersing device was in the back.

"It's real close to home, like a rock throw away and I don't know the circumstances but what if they done it to my house?" Riggs said.

Now the FBI along with the Pima County Sheriff's Department are handling what they consider a racially motivated hate crime, which also hit Carley Riggs.

"I hope they catch whoever done it, and I hope they let me get with him for five minutes," he said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call 911 or 88-CRIME.

©2009 KOLD. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.