Triceten Bickford: Hate Crime Against Muslim Woman In Indiana Allegedly Committed By Teen College Student
Triceten Bickford allegedly committed a hate crime by attacking a Muslim woman in Bloomington, Indiana. The 19-year-old from Fort Wayne is accused of hurling racial slurs at a woman and trying to remove her headscarf.
The FBI had been made aware of the attack on Monday and began investigating it on Tuesday. The incident took place on Saturday.
According to Mashable, Bickford was charged with multiple felonies for his attack on a 47-year-old Muslim woman outside of a Turkish cafe in Bloomington. Those charges include intimidation, strangulation, and battery.
Triceten Bickford allegedly launched his hate crime against the woman who was sitting at a table with her 9-year-old daughter when he showed up from an alley shouting “white power,” spewing anti-black racial slurs, and yelling, “kill the police.” The teen then reportedly grabbed the woman by her neck — forcing her head forward. The woman had difficulty breathing as Bickford tried removing her headscarf, police reveal.
Bickford has said he has no memory of this hate crime. He excused his actions by saying that a combination of consuming alcohol and not taking his anti-anxiety medicine made him lose control. He added that he’s not a racist person.
The arrested teen attended Indiana University, but was suspended from school following the reported hate crime. He was a college sophomore.
According to a statement released by the Indiana Daily Student, Triceten Bickford’s alleged hate crime was enough to get him kicked out.
“This type of abhorrent behavior is not representative of our students, nor of the culture of inclusion and tolerance so many people at the university and in the Bloomington community have worked so hard to foster.”
As Indy Star writes, Bickford was restrained by the woman’s husband and onlookers until police arrived at the scene. He spit on their faces and threatened to kill them and the police when they showed up.
After Bickford was apprehended by police at Sofra Cafe, he reportedly tried to kick out the windows of the police car and bit an officer’s calf. He was taken into custody at Monroe County Jail. He was released from custody on October 18 on $705 bail. His hearing is set for Friday.
FBI opens hate crime investigation into Indiana student’s attack on Muslim woman https://t.co/krVs7Vz072 #mashable
— Bob Untz (@UntzUntzWubWub) October 22, 2015
IU spokesperson Mark Land said that Bickford started at IU-Purdue University Indianapolis last year, but transferred to IU-Bloomington this fall. He was studying Psychology. Land confirmed on Tuesday that Triceten Bickford’ hate crime got him released.
On Tuesday, Land confirmed Bickford is no longer an IU student following the weekend’s events.
In addition to the Bloomington Police Department’s investigation into the hate crime, the university will conduct one of its own. Provost Lauren Robel wrote a letter to the IU community on Tuesday afternoon.
“Our campus was shocked by a horrifying attack against a member of the Bloomington Muslim community over the weekend,” the statement read. “Our community, with one voice, denounces this attack and stands with the victim and her family. Indiana University abhors all violence and will not tolerate it in any form. We all join the outpouring of care and concern for the Muslim members of our community from students, faculty and staff.”
Robel also said in her statement that if students feel overwhelmed or need help trying to cope with the event that happened on October 17, counselors would be available at IU Counseling and Psychological Services on the fourth floor of the IU Health Center. It’s indicated that there are also after-hours phone services available that is free of charge at 812-855-5711 — select option 1.
FBI opens hate crime probe in #Indiana attack on Muslim woman https://t.co/WMAFOmMBRr
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) October 22, 2015
Bickford’s behavior was erratic and arguably very violent when he allegedly assaulted the Muslim woman and made racial slurs. Triceten Bickford’s alleged hate crime is being aggressively investigated.
[Photo Credit: YouTube screenshot]
