Officials: Fight involving UI student not a hate crime

Another 'Racial Attack' Ruled a Hoax in College Town

By David Paulin

The laid back and trendy college town of Iowa City was plunged into turmoil a little over two weeks ago, after a black University of Iowa freshman claimed that three white men had viciously attacked him in the downtown and called him a racial slur. A media firestorm ensued, with the first report airing on a Chicago news station. Iowa City police quickly declared they were investigating a possible hate crime and even consulted with the FBI. City and university officials were on the defensive. Social justice warriors held protests.

The hate crime, however, turned out to be a hoax � just as more than a few observers had suspected all along.

Marcus Owens, 19, nevertheless found willing ears from media outlets and among university officials when claiming that racist college-age white men had attacked him in the mostly white college town � a city that social justice warriors have long claimed is pervaded with an undercurrent of racism, as reflected in all the "microaggressions" and standoffishness supposedly suffered by black newcomers. Many blacks from Chicago's inner city have migrated to Iowa City in recent years � thereby ending its status (to the delight of liberals) as an orderly whitopia.

Owens, a business major, adroitly courted the news media with his harrowing story, and so did his supportive and media-savvy family, who live in the affluent and mostly white Chicago suburb of Naperville. The hate crime story was picked up by outlets as far away as New York. Some published photos of Owens's bruised face and chipped front teeth � photos provided by his famil

Angus was considered a priority offender in the community and was wanted on charges of possession of firearms, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and failing to comply with conditions.

After Lloydminster RCMP located Angus and another man inside a stolen vehicle Saturday night, the chase was on to arrest Angus.

When officers tried to stop the truck Angus was in, the police cruiser was hit. According to RCMP Angus then attempted to drive through a fence and then fled on foot. Two officers, with the help of a police dog, were finally able to track down Angus attempting to break in to a residence.

"In this case and any case, officers are always determining the risk to the public, themselves and the people that they're dealing with," said Suki Manj, the detachment commander in Lloydminster.

During the arrest, police said Angus sustained non-life threatening injuries and was first transported to hospital in Lloydminster and was then taken to St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon.

The officer who made the arrest is now being investigated by another RCMP officer from a different detachment about the force used during the arrest. That investigation will then be reviewed by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team to determine if the investigation was done thoroughly and properly.

Angus' family is frustrated, concerned, and scared about how he was treated by RCMP.

"They acted like he killed somebody," said Lori-Anne. "I was crying my eyes out. I was so scared. I don't know if it's safe to be in Lloydminster anymore."