The Fargo Police Department is calling the assault of a gay man last week a hate crime.
It is the second time the department has reported a hate crime to the FBI since the federal agency began requesting such information in the late 1990s, Fargo Police Lt. Tod Dahle said.
The first case involved two Sudanese refugees who were beaten in May 2001. Fargo police believe the attacks were based on the victims' race.
In that case, a father and son pleaded guilty to assault.
In the latest case, Derek L. Puttbrese, 20, Detroit Lakes, Minn., is charged in Cass County District Court with felony aggravated assault and felonious restraint.
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He is accused of beating a 44-year-old gay man in the victim's north Fargo apartment Nov. 18.
There are no North Dakota or federal laws making hate crimes a chargeable offense, but incidents like last week's assault show there is a need, according to Robert Uebel, co-chairman of Equality North Dakota, a statewide gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights organization.
Uebel lauded Fargo Police for bringing attention to last week's attack.
"When unfortunate incidents like this occur, I think the public needs to know that it is a hate crime, even if there aren't state or federal laws that apply," Uebel said.
"I think it's a sign to our community," he added, "that our police department takes these things seriously."
According to court documents:
The victim told police he met a 20-year-old man at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and invited him to stay at his apartment.
The victim said he told the man he was gay but had no interest in him sexually.
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The victim said his guest slept on a chair the night of Nov. 17 and the next day the two started drinking together.
The victim said the more his guest drank the more agitated he became and at some point the younger man attacked him from behind, swearing at him and calling him a derogatory term for homosexual.
The victim said his attacker struck him repeatedly in the face, tied his hands together, and then continued to assault him.
Police were called to the apartment building on a report of a fight and found the victim in his apartment, his face bloody and his hands bound in front of him. The victim's pants had been pulled down.
The victim was treated for his injuries and released from a local hospital.
Based on information provided by the victim, Puttbrese was arrested Wednesday in a Fargo movie theater.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Dave Olson at (701) 241-5555
