The Rochester Police Department is working to build trust and relationships within the local refugee community.
That's in response to two men harassing a group of Nepali individuals who were playing soccer at Edgerton Park last week. Police say the boys were kicking the ball away with the “intention of starting a fight.”
The situation escalated into a series of crimes later on that evening and into the next day. A brick was thrown through the window of a home, a car was damaged and an iPad and pair of sunglasses were stolen.
Over the weekend, officers arrested and charged two young men, ages 14 and 15, with 2nd degree robbery, grand larceny and criminal mischief for the crimes.
"We are very gratified that Rochester police officers were able in this case work directly with the victims and witnesses from this community to bring this case to a successful conclusion,” says Police Chief Michael Ciminelli. “We hope it sends a message that this is not a vulnerable group of people. That we'll work together with them and if any further crime issues occur, we're going to resolve them."
Ciminelli wouldn’t say whether the two youths arrested were the ones harassing the refugees. He says the investigation is ongoing as additional arrests and charges are possible.
RPD is in the process of scheduling a crime prevention meeting with the Nepali community. Officers plan to teach refugees how to gather suspect descriptions, give a good deposition and crime prevention