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Deputies seek suspects in 2 hate crime cases
By JAMIE JONES SPRING HILL -- Barry Patascher returned home from a video store Thursday at about 8 p.m. and discovered an orange swastika painted on his driveway and the words "Move out now." Patascher is Jewish and had Hanukkah symbols displayed outside. Several miles away, Scott Georgalas got home about the same time and found a swastika painted on his garage door and realized bushes outside his bedroom, close to two propane tanks, were burning. Later that evening, someone set his swing set on fire, authorities said. The Hernando County Sheriff's Office is searching for suspects in the cases, which detectives have classified as hate crimes. Authorities also have ruled the fire at Georgalas' home as arson. "We believe the incidents are connected," said Lt. Joe Paez of the Sheriff's Office. "Detectives are talking to neighbors and collecting evidence. We have no suspects yet." The 38-year-old Patascher of 11334 Redgate St. discovered the swastika, which was about 2 feet by 2 feet, outside near several Hanukkah decorations, including a menorah and dreidles featured in his windows. He also has a white reindeer in his tidy front yard and a sign saying "Merry Christmas." Patascher told authorities he did not know of anyone who was angry with him. Friday morning, Patascher found another swastika that had been painted on the wall next to his garage door, hidden by bushes, investigators said. Patascher could not be reached for comment Friday. One of his neighbors, Bill Simpson, said he was surprised to hear about the incident. "It's such a safe neighborhood," said Simpson, 44, who has lived in the area for six years. "This is highly unusual." Georgalas of 1265 Fayetteville Drive told authorities he found a swastika painted on his garage door. Georgalas went inside to ask his children whether they had heard anything, and they said they smelled something burning outside. Georgalas went back outside and found several palm tree branches lying on top of bushes outside of his bedroom window, authorities said. The branches and the bushes were on fire, and Georgalas put them out with a hose. Authorities said the smell of gasoline was strong and that two large propane gas cylinders were found beside the bushes. Georgalas told authorities he feared the suspects may have wanted them to explode. Georgalas told authorities he thought some juveniles could have set the fire. He said his father had gotten into a fight with several juveniles on Wednesday while he was visiting. Georgalas said the four juveniles were walking in the road and his father honked the horn for them to move. The boys cursed at his father and they got into an argument, Georgalas told authorities. Later that evening, Georgalas said, he heard someone outside yell, "We're going to get you." Neighbors told deputies that two kids in the neighborhood had burned down a tree fort several weeks ago. At about 12:30 a.m. Friday, Georgalas was awakened by a neighbor who saw another fire in Georgalas' back yard. A deputy arrived at the scene and saw a wooden swing set on fire. He put it out with his extinguisher. The deputy said someone had poured gasoline around the foundation of the playground. Deputies at the scene saw a car with its lights turned off and chased it, but were not able to catch the driver. When reached at his home Friday, Georgalas said he did not feel comfortable talking about the incident until it is resolved. Anyone with information is asked to call 754-6830. - Jamie Jones covers law enforcement and courts and can be reached at 754-6830. Send e-mail to jjones@sptimes.com.
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From today's Hernando Times |
