Associated Press
MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff’s deputies on Saturday arrested a 37-year-old Moses Lake man for investigation of malicious harassment in a cross-burning episode.
Accompanied by FBI agents, the deputies executed a search warrant at the home of Leonard Knigge, who then confessed to burning a cross on the lawn of a local mixed-race family March 3, said chief deputy Mark Mann.
Lisa Holman, who is white, was cooking chicken when she saw the 4-foot-tall cross, soaked in lighter fluid, burning in her backyard. She and her husband, Charlie Holman, who is black, ran outside to extinguish the flames.
About an hour later, a brick came hurtling through their window, nearly striking one of their two boys. They found an obscenity written on the windowpane.
A neighbor chased a man in a white hooded sweat shirt down the street until he man hopped into a white, older-model, two-door car and sped away.
Mann said interviews with witnesses led authorities to Knigge.
He is being held in the Grant County Jail for investigation of two counts of malicious harassment and could face federal hate crime charges as well.
"The FBI went through the door with us this morning, and we’re hoping the FBI will follow up on some sort of civil rights violation, but it’s up to them," Mann said.
Mann said he expected Knigge’s first court appearance to be on Monday. It was not known whether he has a lawyer.
The Holmans were pleased to hear of the arrest.
"They’re very happy," Mann said.
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