Photo: Volusia County Corrections
A Florida man is facing more charges after allegedly yelling racial slurs and threatening to kill his neighbors, according to WKMG.
Gary Dragon Jr., 34, was originally arrested for attempted burglary with assault and battery for allegedly terrorizing a Black family in Daytona Beach on May 31. After the family shared footage of the suspect saying the N-word during an aggressive tirade, he might be facing hate crime charges, reporters say.
Police bodycam shows the victim, who lives on the 1700 block of Eastern Road, telling cops about the repeated harassment they got from their 34-year-old white neighbor.
"This is like the tenth time we’ve called the police on him," the resident is heard saying. The victim claims Dragon came to his front door yelling and demanding a fight, while the kids inside the home captured the suspect's outburst on their cellphones. The footage shows Dragon hurling the N-word and kicking their door, according to WKMG.
"I’ll burn your f*****g house down!” Dragon is heard saying. The family also told officers that the 34-year-old threatened to hurt his daughter.
When questioned about his actions, Dragon alleges that he was spurred by his neighbors posting a photo on Instagram calling him a "child predator," reporters learned. Police say they weren't able to verify the online post.
"When it turns into racial incidents like that and comments and threats, then it’s at a higher level where we won’t tolerate anything like that," a Daytona Beach police officer told the victim in the bodycam footage.
Dragon was also charged with a first-degree felony with prejudice, as well as, resisting arrest for running away from officers. Reporters say he was denied bond and was ordered held in custody.
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