Hate Crime - Fugitive Cook Wanted For Scratching Slurs Into Car: Cops

SHOREWOOD, IL — A wanted restaurant cook scratched slurs into a co-worker’s car, police said.

Robert Woods, 24, was charged with a hate crime and felony criminal damage to property in connection with his alleged racist vandalism outside the pizzeria where he had worked.

Woods had differences with a co-worker, police said, and expressed his anger by going outside and keying slurs into the side of the other man’s car.

Woods is Asian, according to jail records. Police said Woods’ co-worker is Hispanic.

Woods was arrested Dec. 29 in connection with an unrelated case but bonded out of jail Monday. The hate crime charge was filed against him two days after he was freed.

Woods’ December arrest stemmed from a traffic stop in Shorewood. Woods turned out to be driving on a suspended license, police said, and when officers attempted to take him into custody, he grabbed hold of his steering wheel.

Woods’ holding onto his steering wheel led to no less than two police officers suffering injuries, according to a criminal complaint on file in Will County court.

Woods was charged with two felony counts of aggravated resisting a police officer for allegedly holding onto the steering wheel.