Racial Death Threat Allegation
Police Investigate Over Possible Racial Slur
The Rhinelander Police Department is investigating allegations of a death threat against a young girl, but the mother of the alleged victim believes they wouldn't have, had she not posted a Facebook video sharing their story.
Julie Larson wants justice for her daughter Cailee, 14. Larson says she was threatened on August 12th because of the color of her skin.
Larson says her brother, Cailee's uncle, told the girl to go inside after hearing profanities from across the street of his apartment on Thayer Street.
That's when she says a neighbor, carrying a noose and broomstick, said, "I'm going to hang that little n-word (expletive) girl."
The police were called by the man suspected of making the threat, who accused Cailee's uncle of disorderly conduct.
Cailee's uncle then told police about the threat. But Larson says the police left it at that.
"I don't want any other children to get hurt," Larson said. "I don't think any other child should ever have to hear things like that or go through that, she's terrified to walk around town."
Since she wasn't getting what she wanted from police, after asking for a report for several days after the incident and not receiving one, she decided to make a video with her daughter sharing her story.
"At that point I was upset that this wasn't a priority. This is a minor child." Larson said.
She posted it on Facebook, and it was quickly shared.
"When you talk about something like this, where as you said earlier somebody's life may have been threatened or something else it's something we want to take seriously so we take each of the steps to make sure everyone is interviewed," said Rhinelander Police Chief Mike Steffes.
Chief Steffes says a detective is assigned to the case and is still interviewing witnesses. He says sometimes investigations don't move as quickly as victims would like, but he can assure the public of one thing.
"I just wanna make sure the community's aware that we are investigating it fully and the safety of the community is our number one concern here at the police department," he said.
NewsChannel 7 tried to speak with the neighbor who is accused of yelling at the girl. He would not speak on camera, and we are not releasing his name because no charges have been filed at this time. He did tell our reporter that, "He did nothing wrong." He said he would not speak on camera until the investigation is complete.
No charges have been filed, but NewsChannel 7 will be following up with police until an outcome has been reached. We will not name the man suspected of threatening the girl, because he hasn't been charged.
