Officials at the apartment complex’s leasing office said Glenn Halfin has a history of making “racially insensitive comments.”(Image courtesy of Grapevine Police)
A Texas man is facing federal hate crime charges after authorities say he placed a noose around the neck of a baby doll and hung it near a Black family’s apartment.
Glenn Eugene Halfin was charged with interference with housing on Friday stemming from a December 2017 incident where he repeatedly threatened and harassed a Black family of three because of their race, according to court documents obtained by the Star-Telegram. Halfin, 64, lived in the same apartment building as his victims at the time.
The Grapevine man, who officials at the leasing office said has a history of making “racially insensitive remarks,” was arrested in December 2017 on a state charge of stalking linked to a series of incidents against the family between Oct. 4, 2017 and Dec. 19, 2017. A hate crime enhancement was also added.
The federal charge came just months after Halfin’s arrest, according to the newspaper. He was later released on $10,000 bond.
Prior to October 2017, the victims told police they suffered through a number of criminal mischief incidents, including eggs and feces thrown at their cars, a noose thrown on their balcony and two incidents where dolls were left with nooses hung around their necks. The victim initially didn’t report the abuse, however.
In one incident, the victim’s common-law wife found the children’s toy underneath her car with rope around its neck. Another doll was found hanging from the couple’s balcony a month later.
“The victim explained he interpreted the placement of the doll and the appearance of the doll as a clear threat to his infant daughter,” Detective Joseph Moeller wrote in a warrant.
Moeller was able to find a doll that was similar to the ones used in the attacks at a nearby Walmart, after which he reviewed several hours of surveillance video from inside the store and identified Halfin as the culprit, according to the Star-Telegram.
Halfin, a former firefighter, has denied any involvement in the crimes.
