ATTORNEY GENERAL FILES CIVIL RIGHTS ENFORCEMENTACTION AGAINST LEWISTON MAN

December 24, 2002

DECEMBER 31, 2002

CONTACT:
STANLEY W. PIECUCH, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
207-626-8818
THOMAS HARNETT, ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL
207-626-8897

Attorney General G. Steven Rowe announced today that his office has filed a civil enforcement action under the Maine Civil Rights Act against a Caucasian man who allegedly threatened an African American man in Lewiston on August 2, 2002.

The complaint, filed in the Superior Court for Androscoggin County, alleges that Roland W. Spencer, 40, of Lewiston, threatened the 48-year-old African American man and made racially derogatory remarks to the man's companion, a 47-year-old Caucasian woman. According to the complaint, Spencer threatened to kill the African American man and damage his van. Even after he was arrested, Spencer allegedly continued to utter racial epithets, telling the arresting officer that, once he was released on bail, he would kill the African American man.

The Attorney General's complaint seeks to permanently enjoin Spencer from any further threats or acts of violence, property damage, and trespass against the victims or others motivated by bias. "Such conduct must not, and will not, be tolerated," Rowe said.

Rowe commended the Lewiston Police Department for its investigation of the incident. The department referred the case to Rowe's office for possible action under the Maine Civil Rights Act.