Are NE Ohio Amish the target of hate criminal activities?

HOMERVILLE, Ohio - - Authorities are investigating a series of criminal offenses targeting Amish households that began 5 months earlier, wondering if they rise to the level of hate crimes.

Medina County Sheriff's Office Detective Sgt. Larry Covey stated the first reported event remained in April, but it appears the criminal activities have increased in recent weeks.

Authorities learned of windows being shattered at houses and buildings. Other property damage was reported as a result of items being thrown from the roadway.

" The deputies that have arrived on the scene have found whatever from railroad spikes, the long heavy railroad spikes, water bottles with rocks in them, just sort of random odd items that are tossed normally from the roadway through a window or up onto a porch or somewhere that it's triggering damage," Covey said.

A minimum of fourteen incidents have actually been reported, some through third parties. Some of them were reported well after they took place since the Amish usually keep to themselves.

The owner of a lumber backyard where windows were smashed with rocks and the rear window of a front-end loader was shattered did not want to go on electronic camera however told Fox 8 News he reported the damage since he wanted it to stop.

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" I could not even offer you a specific count due to the fact that many people don't report it. Its simply, it occurred and they move on with their life. There could quickly be more," Covey said.

Investigators are likewise questioning the motive as possibly arising these incidents to dislike criminal activities.

" We have no other reports from anyone else in the area. Its all been Amish, so it seems to be focused on that particular group," Covey said. "Ohio says if it's a criminal activity based upon faith then it can fall on that."

The issue, particularly with railway spikes and anchors being tossed, is that eventually somebody on the within a window is going to be hurt.

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So far, private investigators have just vague descriptions of vehicles seen in the area at the time of these criminal activities. The victims do not have security or doorbell cams that authorities can typically use to assist them in their examinations.

Investigators desire anyone who knows anything about these crimes and who can assist determine those accountable to call the Medina County Sheriff's Office at 330-725-0028.