Man arrested for hate crime after smearing bacon on Muslim family’s house, car, police say

LAS VEGAS — A 58-year-old Nevada man smeared raw bacon on a Muslim family’s house and car as part of a series of escalating incidents terrorizing them, investigators said.

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Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said they responded to a call June 21 about a dispute between Ricky Uwich and a family nearby who are Muslim, KTNV reported.

Uwich, 57, had called police several times in the past and in the latest, told investigators his neighbors were bothering him and had broken a chandelier in his home, although the family had never been inside his home, KSNV reported.

“Uwich rambled on about the family being terrorists,” police wrote.

When officers talked to the family they told investigators they feared for their safety. They said Uwich had been harassing them since January. They said they avoided him. However, he would constantly send them text messages. They said they had exchanged phone numbers months ago.

They said they tried to make peace with him, offering to cook him meals but things had only gotten worse.

The family showed police videos and photos of Uwich putting bacon on their car. He also smeared a piece on the door and handrails at their house. Pork is prohibited by Islamic dietary laws.

A family member told police they felt “terrorized” by Uwich.

When asked by police, Uwich admitted to smearing the bacon. He told investigators he did not like Muslims and smeared the bacon in retribution for the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, KTNV reported.

Uwich was arrested and charged with harassment, stalking, nuisance or trespassing and committing a crime out of hate or bias, KSNV reported.

The family went to court and filed for a protective order June 23.

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