Sheriff: Man in hate crime killing said he targeted biker because he was white

FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. (WBAY/Gray News) – A Fond du Lac man charged in a homicide hate crime said he intentionally swerved his truck into a motorcyclist because he believed Harley riders to be “white racists,” according to information released by the county sheriff Thursday.

Daniel Navarro, 27, is being held on a $1 million bond on charges of first degree intentional homicide – hate crime – use of a dangerous weapon and first degree recklessly endangering safety – hate crime. He made his initial court appearance in Fond du Lac County Thursday.

The victim was identified as Phillip A. Thiessen, 55. Thiessen, a 1983 graduate of L.P. Goodrich High School, was a Marine and later a police officer in Fairfax, Va. Later, Thiessen worked for the Wisconsin Department of Justice Internet Crimes Against Children unit. He had retired and was living in Fond du Lac. CLICK HERE to read Thiessen’s obituary.

“Phillip was a generous, caring, loyal man that made friends easily anywhere he went, and maintained long-distance friendships for many years. He believed in giving back to his community and was a volunteer at the Fondy Food Pantry,” reads the obituary.

The crash happened July 3, at about 6:47 p.m. Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt said Navarro was driving a pickup truck when he swerved into the path of an oncoming motorcycle.

Navarro’s truck hit Thiessen’s motorcycle head on. Thiessen was found dead in the road.

Navarro’s truck went off the road and hit a pole. He was not hurt.

Bamsterman

Article URL : https://www.nbc29.com/2020/07/10/sheriff-man-hate-crime-killing-said-he-targeted-biker-because-he-was-white/