Pastor Finds Noose Hanging From Tree In Front Yard
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4)- A church pastor believes he was the target of a hate crime after he woke up to find a noose hanging from the tree in the yard of his apartment complex.
Police in Aurora rushed to Pastor Ken Campbell's home on Wednesday morning to find a hangman's noose hanging from the tree. Officers cut it down and took it as evidence.
Campbell believes because of the complexity of the knots tied in the noose and the height of it placed in the tree, it's not likely to be a kid playing a joke.
The noose was hanging in a tree located next to his vehicle which was vandalized one week ago.
Campbell believes even if the noose wasn't meant for him, it's a horrible site for the community to see.
"To come out and to find something like this hanging out in your front yard... it's very, very scary. I'm originally from Mississippi and Louisiana, so, what's the first thing that you think of in a situation like this? And to come out and find this in your yard, it sends a horrible message to the entire neighborhood," said Campbell.
Police said the noose is an anti-bias crime which is similar to a hate crime or a crime of prejudice. Investigators encourage anyone who feels they are a victim of a crime that targets race or religion to come forward and that they take these matters very seriously.