Suspect In Possible Edmond Hate Crime Attack Arrested At Work

An Edmond man accused of running down four black teenagers and attacking one of them says police got the story wrong.

James Brian Roper, 31, was arrested for aggravated assault Wednesday night but released the following day. However, police arrested Roper again Friday after a judge issued a warrant for violating terms of his probation on a 2007 domestic abuse case, that he spent time in prison for, as a result of this latest attack.

6/29/2012 Related Story: Details Released In Possible Hate Crime in Edmond

News 9 spoke with Roper this afternoon and showed him a copy of the affidavit, that states he went after the four teens and then beat one of them up. But Roper says he was the one who was assaulted Wednesday night.

"What I did, I didn't do anything wrong.  I was looking out for my neighborhood. I was sick of the break-ins. So are the neighbors. The police aren't willing to do anything," Roper claimed.

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

Court papers also state Roper called the teenagers gang bangers, the N-word, Crips and thugs. And that he lifted up his shirt and pointed to a tattoo of a swastika above his stomach. Roper admits to having a swastika tattoo, but says this was not a hate crime.

OKC police arrested Roper at his place of business on Friday. He is now in the Oklahoma county jail being held without bond.

Roper spent two year in prison for a burglary, domestic abuse and assault and battery conviction.