Macomb Co. authorities are investigating alleged violence and hate speech against Harris-Walz volunteers

St Clair Shores — Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido said he will decide Monday whether to charge a man accused of making hateful comments before allegedly driving his car toward a group of volunteers distributing campaign materials in support of Democrats this month presidential candidate Kamala Harris.

Lucido said his office’s Hate Crimes Unit is investigating the allegations, “and we should be able to say whether we will charge this man today. We have the evidence, including the 911 call that was made, statements from the suspect and statements from the witnesses.”

One of the witnesses was Melissa Crook, who told The Detroit News on Oct. 13 that she feared for her life when the man fired the engine of his Mercedes before speeding toward her and other volunteers outside the VFW Bruce Post on Jefferson Avenue near Martin.

“I was in a neck brace because I had neck surgery, and I couldn’t move to the right; all I could do was step back,” said Crook, 41, of St. Clair Shores. “He stopped his vehicle less than two feet from where I had moved. I thought that man was going to kill me.”

Crook, who said she regularly helps organize events for the Democratic Party, said the incident happened around 3:45 p.m. outside an “activation tent” she had helped set up hours earlier near a similar tent outside the VFW hall in which the Republican presidential candidate was touted. Donald Trump.

“Most of the people who came were happy to see us there,” Crook said. “We did get a few people who thought we were the Trump tent, but when they found out we were for Harris-Walz, they just turned around and left. But one man became very angry.”

When the man learned the tent was set up by the St. Clair Shores Democratic Club and the Macomb County Democrats, “he started spewing hateful things; anti-LGBTQ stuff,” Crooks said. “Then he said something snide to a woman and her daughter about their weight. We said, ‘We’re clearly not what you’re looking for; can you please leave?’ He said, ‘I can’t wait for Trump to win because people like you would be wiped out.'”

Crook said the man then got into his car and started the engine.

“He could have backed out of the parking lot, but he pointed it right at me and the tent,” Crook said.

The man then drove toward the tent at a high rate of speed before hitting the brakes, Crook said.

Crook said she is not aware of anyone taking video of the alleged incident.

“I had my phone out, and literally as I was about to get a record, he started driving towards me,” she said. “However, there are ten witnesses who saw it.”

Crook said St. Clair Shores police responded to the group’s 911 call and the witnesses all gave reports to the officer.

“We only provided a partial license plate number and vehicle description,” Crook said. “(The suspect) was stopped the next day for a traffic violation, and due to the partial license plate number and description of the car, the police asked him if he was the person involved (in the alleged incident), and he fully admitted it to the police… so that helped. I’m glad he admitted it since we don’t have video.’

Crook said VFW hall officials told her their surveillance camera was not pointed at the area where the alleged incident occurred.

St. Clair Shores police did not immediately respond to a call for comment Monday.

Lucido said he wasn’t sure if police had retrieved video from nearby businesses.

“That’s all part of what is being investigated by our team,” he said. “We should know more in a few hours.”

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