Crime & Safety
Davis Police Investigating Possible Homophobic Hate Crime; Victim's Supporters Take to Facebook
Police say the incident may have been the result of the victim's sexual orientation and will investigate it as such, according to the Davis Enterprise.
Davis Police are investigating a physical altercation that left a victim hospitalized over the weekend as a hate crime.
The victim, 31-year-old Mikey Partida, was hospitalized early Sunday morning after an altercation outside a house party, according to the Davis Enterprise. Police say the incident may have been the result of the victim's sexual orientation and will investigate it as such.
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A Facebook page in his support was launched this week, called Mikey's Justice Fund. Here's the description of the incident provided on the page:
At about 3 on March 13, 2013 in Davis, California, 31 year old Mikey Partida was violently attacked and beaten to near death. Mikey had forgotten his keys at his cousins apartment and was on his way back when a man began kicking and beating him while yelling homophobic slurs. Mikey has suffered from a fractured skull, bleeding on his brain, multiple fractured bones in his face and a laceration to his head that left a pool of blood on the lawn where he was beaten. The bruising and swelling around his eyes is so bad he still has not been able to open them. He also has a cut under one eye that went all the way though the lid. The trauma to his ear is so severe it caused his ear to swell three times it's normal size and had to be lanced to release the pressure.
Those who've met Mikey know he is one of the most non-violent, hardworking and gentle persons on the planet. This heinous hate crime will affect Mikey for years to come. Please, if you can, consider helping in his recovery by clicking on the link below and donating for the accruing costs of this violent action.
Find out what's happening in Davisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"While the immediate challenges posed by the severity of his physical injuries are clear, the long-term impacts of PTSD are not," said Partida's mom in a statement on the Facebook page Tuesday. "Consequently, we are in the process of seeking legal representation to secure every possible resource and support necessary to facilitate his recovery and healing."
As of Monday, Partida is listed in good condition, according to the Enterprise.
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