Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 13, 1993                   TAG: 9305130237
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE:  BY MARY BISHOP STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RACIST VANDALISM HITS HOUSE AT NIGHT

Loama and Richard Perkins, of 809 6th St., S.E., said the vandalism followed weeks of a white neighbor driving a moped by their house and shouting racial slurs at them and a housemate, the only black person in the household.

The Perkins and their friend, Fred McCoy, said the harassment began when they moved into the house about 2 1/2 weeks ago.

Richard Perkins said he awoke about 3:30 a.m. Monday to find a child's pink plastic toy motorcycle and a little blue car burning on his front porch.

The toys belonged to his daughter, 5, and the 2-year-old daughter of another housemate, Ann Ward. Ward's car and the Perkins' car were painted with swastikas and epithets, according to the families.

Perkins said he suspects other auto damage - perhaps something poured into his gas tank. He said the motor of his car is locked up.

He said police took a book of matches and a paper milk carton containing gasoline from their front yard on Monday. He and his wife said police arrested, then released, the man they said has been making the racist remarks.

Perkins said police promised to keep a watch on the house, but he said he has not seen police since he reported the incident. "I'd like for the police to do something, or at least let me know what they found out," he said.

Roanoke Police Department Maj. J.L. Viar said Wednesday night he was unaware of the incident.

Perkins said he is guarding the house at night and is bringing in dogs, including two pitbulls.