Gay couple assaulted by 7 in restaurant parking lot
Michael Ferraresi
The Arizona Republic
Dec. 20, 2006 12:00 AM
Click here for actual article in Arizona Republic
SCOTTSDALE - Detectives searching for witnesses to a hate-crime attack outside a Scottsdale restaurant revealed more details of the assault Tuesday as gay-rights activists hailed the couple for stepping forward.
"(Detectives) are trying to jog peoples' memories," Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark said. "There may be others who witnessed the attack who haven't come forward."
On Tuesday, investigators said up to seven men attacked Jean Rolland and Andrew Frost, who claimed they were jumped at Frasher's Steakhouse after one attacker saw them holding hands, called them "fags" and started the beating.
Frost, 19, was treated and released at Scottsdale Healthcare Osborn for wounds to his scalp and face after the Sunday incident near McDowell and Scottsdale roads. Rolland, 28, was treated for minor injuries.
The couple, who had been dating for a couple of weeks, first spoke to The Arizona Republic on Monday, explaining they wanted to press charges that could lead to enhanced sentencing because of the anti-gay nature of the attack.
"I don't expect people to accept gay people, but when they go out of their way to do something like that it's ridiculous," said Frost, a Scottsdale resident who graduated from Mesa Westwood High.
Only one witness, a Frasher's server, has come forward, police said. Detectives were at the restaurant Tuesday interviewing staff and trying to locate others who might be able to identify any of the men accused of the assault.
It was unclear if any weapons were used in the attack, though Frost told responding officers he was struck from behind by an unknown object.
The victims told police they were accosted by two men near the entryway of Frasher's as they were leaving dinner. Others came from inside the restaurant, they said.
Rolland said the first two men saw him holding hands with Frost and instigated the fight. The altercation spilled over into the restaurant parking lot, where Rolland and Frost crumpled to the ground to avoid being punched and kicked.
"All of a sudden there were six or seven guys on us," said Rolland, a part-time Scottsdale resident who hails from France. "They started to beat on us at the door and pushed us out into the parking lot."
A hate crime is defined as "a criminal offense committed against a person or property, which is motivated, in a whole or in part, by the offender's bias against a race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability," according to the FBI.
As many as 23 hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation were reported in Arizona in 2005, down from 33 the previous year, the FBI said.
The Frasher's server told police he heard at least one man, who appeared to be talking to Rolland and Frost, say something like, "Don't ever hold hands in front of me again." The server added he did not see where any of the attackers went after the incident.
Rolland and Frost have brought the incident to the attention of the Arizona Human Rights Fund and Foundation, a Phoenix-based non-profit organization that advocates for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights. The organization, which has lobbied the Legislature for stricter penalties for hate crimes, said it will follow the Scottsdale police investigation and push for enhanced sentencing if and when the suspects are prosecuted.
"This is an isolated incident that will change these men's lives forever," said Amy Kobeta, a spokeswoman for the group, adding that oftentimes, victims will not come forward if they were targeted because of their sexual orientation.
