WASHINGTON — Two men have been charged with assault and committing hate crimes in Prince William County, Virginia, after an incident on Monday that police say was likely racially motivated.
Fifty-six-year-old Jimmy Greer, of Manassas, and 25-year-old Dustin Greer, of Marshall, are being charged with assaulting a man.
It happened after 4 p.m. in the area of Ashton Avenue near Sudley Manor Drive in Manassas. According to a news release, the 35-year-old victim was driving his car when Jimmy and Dustin cut him off in a pickup truck and parked in front of him.
Police said Dustin stepped out of the passenger side of the truck and assaulted the victim, who is of Middle Eastern origin. The suspects yelled racially charged comments, such as, “Go back to your country” and “You don’t belong here.”
The victim was eventually able to drive away, but the suspects followed him onto Interstate 66.
It wasn’t until the man pulled into the Manassas Safety Rest Area and Welcome Center and contacted police that the Greers stopped harassing him and fled. He gave police the license plate number of the truck, which led to the identity of the attackers.
Jimmy and Dustin were arrested in a hotel in Manassas on Wednesday. Both men were charged with assault and battery with a hate crime enhancement. Jimmy faces an additional charge of reckless driving.
Both men have been released on a $5,000 unsecured bond.
