Calm Posted February 15, 2020 Posted February 15, 2020 (edited) https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/2/14/21138065/mormon-missionary-attack-payson-police-hate-crime-lds-assault-race-black-religion-latter-day-saint Quote Payson police on Friday said they will request that the recent attack of a black Latter-day Saint missionary be prosecuted as a hate crime. On Thursday, brothers Sebastian Francis West, 19, and Malachi Bay West, 20, both of Payson, were arrested for investigation of assault and criminal mischief. Police said they were looking Friday for two to three more people to question in connection with the Jan. 28 incident that happened near 300 North and 100 East in Payson. On that day, a missionary who identified himself to police as a “black Panamanian” was with his companion to teach a family in the area.... The group was harassed by the two West brothers and three to four others who used “derogatory, racist slurs” toward the black missionary before pushing him to the ground, according to a statement from Payson police... A police affidavit says the group “‘intimidated’ and ‘terrorized’ the victim by surrounding him, calling him racial slurs and telling him to get out of their ‘hood’ and to go back to where he came from,” which fits the definition of a hate crime. The group eventually moved in, the affidavit states, and attacked the missionary, “punching him in the head and face, kicking him in the torso, and shoving him to the ground.” West is claiming self defense...right. Edited February 15, 2020 by Calm
katherine the great Posted February 15, 2020 Posted February 15, 2020 Sheesh! Throw the book at them! If that's not a hate crime, what is? 2
Tacenda Posted February 15, 2020 Posted February 15, 2020 Sure glad Utah passed the "hate crime" law...at first wasn't sure it would pass.
Calm Posted February 15, 2020 Author Posted February 15, 2020 (edited) The crime is horrendous...but when I think about it I cannot stop laughing about the claim of self defense. Probably would feel differently if the guy had been hospitalized. Really needs a lawyer. I would be tempted as a judge to up the sentence for that defense. Not that a missionary is immune from being provoked, but hard to assault someone when on the ground getting kicked by 5 or more people. Edited February 15, 2020 by Calm
Jeanne Posted February 15, 2020 Posted February 15, 2020 Heard about this and was thoroughly disgusted. This is a hate crime and maybe on many levels!!
Robert F. Smith Posted February 15, 2020 Posted February 15, 2020 13 hours ago, Calm said: ............................................. on the ground getting kicked by 5 or more people. I guess I'll have to stop bragging that we don't have gangs in Utah County. 1
Tacenda Posted February 16, 2020 Posted February 16, 2020 8 hours ago, Robert F. Smith said: I guess I'll have to stop bragging that we don't have gangs in Utah County. A white supremacy gang.
Calm Posted February 16, 2020 Author Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Tacenda said: A white supremacy gang. Not necessarily. Could be simply jerks attacking their next target and not being creative in their verbal assaults, just repeating what they have seen on TV or whatever. Maybe not even a gang, but a violent man and his brother and a couple of friends. But I wouldn't be surprised if either possibility is true. Edited February 16, 2020 by Calm
Calm Posted February 16, 2020 Author Posted February 16, 2020 Looks like gang is most likely right. Quote The victim told officials that as he and his companion were nearing the home, six individuals wearing dark hoodies, some with red bandanas covering their faces, approached them. The victim also reported that the individuals started the altercation by yelling at him, using racially-charged language, according to the probable cause affidavit. The suspects then took the missionary’s phone and threw it into the roadway, reportedly causing damage to the screen. As the victim went to retrieve the phone, the suspects followed him, continuing to yell racial slurs, mocking his religion and making threats to “slit his mother’s throat.” The victim also told officers that one of the suspects had a pair of brass knuckles with sharp spikes on the ends of them, wearing one in each hand. This particular suspect, he alleged, made threatening gestures toward the victim. That’s when each of the suspects allegedly attacked the victim, punching him in the head and face, kicking him in the torso and shoving him to the ground. While he was on the ground, the suspects held his waist and legs to keep him from fleeing, according to the probable cause statement. The victim was reportedly able to push the suspects away from him and free himself before the suspects fled the area. Officers noted that the suspects did not target the victim’s Caucasian companion at any time during the altercation. Alongside the victim’s phone, his prescription glasses, valued at around $1,000, were also broken in the assault. Police noted in their affidavit that “the suspects ‘imitated’ and ‘terrorized’ the victim by surrounding him, calling him racial slurs and telling him to get out of their ‘hood’ and to go back to where he came from.” The offenses are also being viewed as “gang enhanced” as the suspects’ actions were done so in concert with each other. https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/payson-police-make-first-arrest-after-january-attack-on-missionary/article_37bc0a5c-fa27-5a29-b8e3-41c5194a12e2.html
Calm Posted February 16, 2020 Author Posted February 16, 2020 Quote When the victim went to get his phone, one suspect said he was going to "slit his mother's throat." They also mocked him by calling him a "church boy," the PC statement states. Police say at no time did the suspects target the victim's white companion. It's unclear what the victim's companion was doing during the assault. https://kutv.com/news/local/police-payson-man-arrested-for-hate-crime-after-he-5-others-attack-black-lds-missionary
Calm Posted February 16, 2020 Author Posted February 16, 2020 (edited) Age and name are right, so could be same kid. Troubled for a long time if so. If Payson police are mentioned, even though he was in Provo and last sighted in Pleasant Grove, West is probably from Payson. Oct 2, 2012 Quote Payson police are looking for an 11-year-old boy who disappeared Sunday. According to Payson Lt. Bill Wright, 11-year-old Sebastian West was staying at Vantage Point, a youth facility in Provo, when he disappeared with two teens, ages 15 and 17 years old. Wright said Vantage Point is not a locked facility and West simply walked away. West was last seen in Pleasant Grove, and police in several cities were participating in the search. West stands roughly 4 feet 9 inches tall and has blond hair. https://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/payson/payson-police-looking-for-missing-boy/article_119d8268-0ce4-11e2-8b18-001a4bcf887a.html See photo of him at 11. What a shame. Looks happy and carefree in the shot, though unlikely felt that way all the time being a runaway. https://www.deseret.com/2012/10/2/20507550/police-asking-for-help-in-search-for-payson-runaway Quote Payson police are searching for an 11-year-old who ran away from a state juvenile justice facility in Provo. Lt. Bill Wright said Sebastian West ran away from Vantage Point, a youth services center, where he was taken Sunday to provide a brief break from his family following an issue at home. He's believed to have fled with a 15-year-old and 17-year-old who were also at the facility, Wright said. Mentions his mother, but no father. https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=55012758&itype=CMSID Edited February 16, 2020 by Calm
Calm Posted February 16, 2020 Author Posted February 16, 2020 His brother was arrested in 2018 (got to be a typo for his age as in 18, not 48 as how many Malachi Bay West's can there be in Utah County? Criminal trespass upon school https://www.bustedmugshots.com/utah/provo/malachi-bay-west/216303912
smac97 Posted February 18, 2020 Posted February 18, 2020 An update by the Deseret News: Quote Two brothers from Payson were formally charged Tuesday with a hate crime in the attack of a black Latter-day Saint missionary. Sebastian Francis West, 19, and Malachi Bay West, 20, are each charged in 4th District Court with assault, a third-degree felony. Prosecutors are seeking gang and hate crime enhancements on the potential penalty if the men are convicted, according to court documents. Then comes the factual narrative: Quote On Jan. 28, two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were going to a home in Payson to teach when they encountered a group of six to seven men, including the West brothers, who were threatening one of the residents in the front yard, according to charging documents. “The suspects were in dark hoodies and bandanas covered the lower halves of their faces. One of the missionaries, who is Panamanian and dark-skinned, attempted to intervene and asked the suspects to leave,” the charges state. The black missionary then took out his cellphone to call police, but one of the men in the group took it and threw it across the street, according to charging documents. “When victim retrieved the phone, the group redirected their attention toward him — they swore and yelled at victim, repeatedly called him a (racial slur) and told him to go back to where he came from,” the charges state. The racial slur the men used multiple times was the N-word, according to police. The men then brandished brass knuckles, and intimidated the missionary as he tried to go into the house, according to the charges. “As victim attempted to retreat back to the residence, one of the suspects dove at his feet, attempting to tackle him, while another punched victim in the head. At that point, he was attacked by all of the suspects. Victim was punched and kicked repeatedly by the group, and eventually tackled to the ground,” the charges state. While struggling on the ground with the missionary, the group repeatedly used the racial slur while making statements such as, “This is our town,” “This is our turf,” “Go back to slavery” and “Go home you stupid (racial slur),” the charges state. The group also called the missionary “church boy” and “told him to ‘go back to Bible school you filthy, stupid (racial slur).’ Victim sustained numerous injuries, including to his lips, head, shoulder, ribs and forehead,” investigators wrote in the charging documents. "Church boy"? "Bible school"? These guys live in Payson? In Utah County? What a weird story. I hope the missionary is recuperating well. -Smac 1
Calm Posted February 18, 2020 Author Posted February 18, 2020 (edited) 12 minutes ago, smac97 said: These guys live in Payson? In Utah County? The two brothers are long time residents (at least 8 years), but may not be members. (Had some reasoning but removed it after looking at the picture again) Or those comments could have been made by another gang member who was from elsewhere. Quote a group of six to seven men, including the West brothers, who were threatening one of the residents in the front yard, according to charging documents. Would like to know what the threats were about (simple curiosity). Edited February 18, 2020 by Calm
HappyJackWagon Posted February 18, 2020 Posted February 18, 2020 6 minutes ago, Calm said: The two brothers are long time residents (at least 8 years), but may not be members or are, but from an inactive family. A picture from when Sebastian was around 11 (used when he went missing) showed what looks like a beer bottle to me on the picnic table behind him. Looks like he is with family (his mother was mentioned in the missing persons alert). Could have been pop though. Not an expert. Or those comments could have been made by another gang member who was from elsewhere. Would like to know what the threats were about (simple curiosity). Such a sad story. I'm glad the missionary was able to walk away after the beating. Did it say what, if anything, happened to the companion?
Ahab Posted February 18, 2020 Posted February 18, 2020 Someone named Saul did some very bad stuff before he had his name changed to Paul and became an apostle of Jesus Christ. I think some people have to learn the hard way about what they should not do. Maybe some jail time will do him some good. And maybe hearing the gospel would do him some good, too.
Amulek Posted February 18, 2020 Posted February 18, 2020 On 2/14/2020 at 11:51 PM, Tacenda said: Sure glad Utah passed the "hate crime" law...at first wasn't sure it would pass. For the record, I would be perfectly content for those involved to merely be punished for assault and criminal mischief. I don't care for hate crimes at all - even when they are being invoked to protect members of my own faith.
LoudmouthMormon Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 On 2/15/2020 at 1:29 PM, Robert F. Smith said: I guess I'll have to stop bragging that we don't have gangs in Utah County. Who in the world ever told you there were no gangs in Utah County? My wife could tell you some stories from the '80's and '90s... 1
RevTestament Posted February 19, 2020 Posted February 19, 2020 On 2/15/2020 at 1:29 PM, Robert F. Smith said: I guess I'll have to stop bragging that we don't have gangs in Utah County. I know a fellow who was an undercover officer who lives about 6 blocks from this area. Payson HS is probably the worst in all of Utah. Lots of drugs, etc. When our kids got to HS age, we moved to Salem, and our boys went to the Salem Hills HS, which they thoroughly enjoyed. Even in elementary and middle school, one of my boys got into it with a boy from this area, who was just kind of a rough character. The west side is certainly no better. I lived in Payson for about 9 years. Overall I liked the city, but you can definitely find a rougher element there. On 2/15/2020 at 10:24 PM, Tacenda said: A white supremacy gang. I didn't see evidence of that, but yeah, there are gang elements there, and they are probably a large portion of the drug trafficking in that city. I saw drugs there the entire time I lived there. 2
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