An Iowa woman faces several hate crimes and a slew of other charges for allegedly vandalizing Latin restaurants with swastikas and calling in a bomb threat to a community college.
The Muscatine Police Department arrested Alisa Rilla Nicols Staats, 30, on Tuesday. Police identified several Muscatine businesses and buildings that were targeted including Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, Jibaro Restaurant, Pete’s Tap Bar & Grill, Muscatine City Hall, Susan Clark Junior High School and Muscatine Community College.
Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark condemned the actions on a Facebook post that showed photos of the graffiti.
The photos showed several swastikas drawn on the Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant and Jibaro Restaurant, which serves food from the U.S. territory Puerto Rico. There also was a message that said "we don’t want you here."
“Let me be very clear: we do not condone this kind of hate-filled behavior in our community, and we work towards identifying those involved,” Bark said in the post. “Such acts are absolutely disgusting and have no place here in Muscatine.”
Bark asked Muscatine to support both restaurants to promote “unity and respect for all individuals.”
Both restaurants on Facebook thanked the community for their support.
“We were deeply disheartened to discover the recent vandalism to our restaurant and neighboring businesses, an act rooted in hate that does not reflect the values of love, respect, and unity that we hold dear,” Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant said in its post.
Jibaro said it would reopen Thursday.
Staats alleged spree did not stop at the restaurants.
She also allegedly threw multiple bricks at a window and camera at Susan Clark Junior High School, 600 Kindler Ave., causing about $3,200 in damage, according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities received a call from the Muscatine Community College officials on Tuesday morning reporting a woman called to say she was “going to blow up the college,” according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities were able to trace the phone number to Staats, who allegedly admitted she made the bomb threat, according to court documents. She also allegedly vandalized the college on Sunday with swastikas and racist remarks.
The community college had to temporarily stop classes while police investigated, according to court documents.
Staats also picked up a harassment charge after allegedly telling an officer, who was transporting her to the Muscatine County Jail, that he was a “dead mother f---er” several times, according to a criminal complaint. Staats allegedly told the officer he was a pedophile and made threats toward the officer’s children, according to the criminal complaint.
The Muscatine Police Department arrested Alisa Rilla Nicols Staats, 30, on Tuesday. Police identified several Muscatine businesses and buildings that were targeted including Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, Jibaro Restaurant, Pete’s Tap Bar & Grill, Muscatine City Hall, Susan Clark Junior High School and Muscatine Community College.
Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark condemned the actions on a Facebook post that showed photos of the graffiti.
The photos showed several swastikas drawn on the Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant and Jibaro Restaurant, which serves food from the U.S. territory Puerto Rico. There also was a message that said "we don’t want you here."
“Let me be very clear: we do not condone this kind of hate-filled behavior in our community, and we work towards identifying those involved,” Bark said in the post. “Such acts are absolutely disgusting and have no place here in Muscatine.”
Bark asked Muscatine to support both restaurants to promote “unity and respect for all individuals.”
Both restaurants on Facebook thanked the community for their support.
“We were deeply disheartened to discover the recent vandalism to our restaurant and neighboring businesses, an act rooted in hate that does not reflect the values of love, respect, and unity that we hold dear,” Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant said in its post.
Jibaro said it would reopen Thursday.
Staats alleged spree did not stop at the restaurants.
She also allegedly threw multiple bricks at a window and camera at Susan Clark Junior High School, 600 Kindler Ave., causing about $3,200 in damage, according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities received a call from the Muscatine Community College officials on Tuesday morning reporting a woman called to say she was “going to blow up the college,” according to a criminal complaint.
Authorities were able to trace the phone number to Staats, who allegedly admitted she made the bomb threat, according to court documents. She also allegedly vandalized the college on Sunday with swastikas and racist remarks.
The community college had to temporarily stop classes while police investigated, according to court documents.
Staats also picked up a harassment charge after allegedly telling an officer, who was transporting her to the Muscatine County Jail, that he was a “dead mother f---er” several times, according to a criminal complaint. Staats allegedly told the officer he was a pedophile and made threats toward the officer’s children, according to the criminal complaint.
Iowa woman charged with hate crimes for allegedly painting swastikas on Latin restaurants
The woman also allegedly wrote "we don't want you here" on one of the restaurants. One is a Mexican place and the other serves Puerto Rican food.
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