A suburban dispute over garbage bins in Orland Park has led to felony hate crime charges against 68-year-old Terrence Clyne, who allegedly struck his Palestinian neighbor in a racially charged altercation. According to the Chicago Tribune, the incident took place on Wednesday when the victim relocated garbage cans from a communal driveway, prompting the assault and verbal abuse from Clyne informed by his neighbor's national origin.
Clyne, hailing from the 15400 block of Catalina Drive, is also charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery. The confrontation unfolded at 10:35 a.m. at the 15400 block of Begonia Court, triggering Clyne to make hateful comments before physically assaulting the man and his wife, who attempted to de-escalate the situation. Court documents reveal that Clyne used a closed fist to punch the man twice "while yelling Palestinian-related slurs," as police detailed in a statement obtained by WBEZ.
Following his Thursday court appearance, Clyne was released on bond. As officers arrived on scene just moments after the loud disturbance, the area that bore witness to the hate crime showed no visible signs of the event—seemingly undisturbed, reported by neighbor T.J. Schaal who admittedly heard the commotion but did not catch the full scope of the altercation. In a neighborhood described as a "melting pot" by T.J.'s mom, Bernadette Schaal, residents expressed surprise and shock upon learning about the hate crime investigation.
Increasing hostilities in the area have raised alarms, with the Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) responding to the charges against Clyne, emphasizing that "anti-Palestinian attacks will be taken seriously by law enforcement authorities" in a statement praised by CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab. This incident is part of a worrying uptick in hate incidents against Arab Americans and Muslims in Chicago, including violent threats against Muslim schools and the tragic hate crime killing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American, according to CAIR's statement and past reports referenced by WBEZ. Clyne is scheduled for his next court date on Jan. 30.
