Details Released In Possible Hate Crime In Edmond

Four black teenagers say a white man tried to run them down with his car in an Edmond neighborhood before beating up one of the teens.

On June 27, the juveniles were walking in the area near N.E. 15th and Kelly around 10 p.m. when a car passed them. They told police the driver, later identified as 31-year-old James Roper, then turned around and tried to hit them with his car.

The teens began to run, and said Roper yelled at them, "Why are y'all running?" Police said Roper got out of his car and started chasing the teens.

Two of the four boys tried to climb a fence to get away, but the fence fell. Police said Roper caught up to one of the victims and began punching him in the face while yelling racial slurs and calling him a "gang banger."

6/28/2012 Related Story: Edmond Police Arrest Man In Possible Hate Crime Attack On Kids

One of the teens said he tried to stop Roper from beating the boy, but backed off when Roper reached into the front of his pants and acted as if he had a gun. The teens said Roper walked back to his car and said, "I ain't gonna have no gang bangers living in my neighborhood." He allegedly pulled up his shirt and showed the teens a tattoo of a swastika on his stomach before getting into his car and driving away.

The teens called police, who observed the 15-year-old beating victim had sustained multiple injuries to his face, head and hands. Roper was arrested on a complaint of assault and battery, but has since been released from jail. The Oklahoma County District Attorney is deciding what charges should be filed against Roper.