The Ann Arbor Police Department is seeking assistance in identifying two young men involved in what has been described as a racially motivated incident at a Black family's residence in the Foxfire subdivision. According to CBS News Detroit, the event, which occurred around 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, involved the individuals knocking on the door and then displaying an image of an ape to the home's doorbell camera.
Ann Arbor Police Chief Andre C. Anderson stated, "These actions were deliberate, as one of the assailants could be explicitly heard mentioning an African American male homeowner's name as he displayed the photo of the Ape," as reported by CBS News Detroit. The authorities have released photos of the suspects, believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, who left the scene in a gray minivan when there was no answer at the door.
While the homeowners do not recognize the two individuals, the concern among community members has been palpable. The Ann Arbor police headquarters echoed this sentiment, with Chief Anderson expressing that "many members of the Ann Arbor community have found the actions of these two to be inflammatory and cause for concern," in a statement obtained by mlive. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Ann Arbor City Council recently directed the city administration to ensure that police receive up-to-date training on hate crimes, focusing on proactive measures to prevent and respond to such incidents.
The police department has asked the public to assist by providing any information about the individuals or the gray minivan spotted at the scene. Tips can be directed to the Ann Arbor Police Department at 734-794-6939 or by emailing [email protected].
