24-02-2025
Man ticketed for scattering 'hate flyers' in Lincoln Heights, accused of taking peace flag
Two weeks after a white supremacist demonstration in Lincoln Heights, a Kentucky man is accused of throwing "hate flyers" throughout the neighborhood in the middle of night and was found with a peace banner hung by residents nearby.
Hamilton County deputies ticketed 47-year-old William Bader, of Kentucky, for littering Sunday after they say he admitted to throwing "hate flyers" from his car across Lincoln Heights about 2 a.m., according to a sheriff's office news release.
Deputies also said Bader was found with a homemade flag Lincoln Heights citizens had made with the words "Peace and Love." The flag had been displayed on the I-75 overpass where the Feb. 7 demonstration took place.
Members of Lincoln Heights' new armed neighborhood patrol, the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program, were following Bader after he began randomly throwing the flyers from his car, the news release says. They followed him out of Lincoln Heights and into Lockland.
Deputies stopped Bader near Mulberry Street and Locust Street, just inside of neighboring Wyoming.
A video posted by a witness Sunday shows a deputy confront Bader with the flag in hand, telling him they have video of the flag previously being on the side of the bridge.
🚨 Community Safety in Action! 🚨Early this morning, just after 2:30 AM, the Lincoln Heights Safety and Watch Program (L.H. SAW) demonstrated exactly why community vigilance matters. Working within the law and in collaboration with local law enforcement, L.H. SAW successfully stopped an individual who attempted to steal and burn a flag of peace, an act meant to incite division and same individual was also cited for littering hate speech propaganda across Lincoln Heights, Lockland, and Wyoming—a clear attempt to spread discord. But thanks to the swift response and community-driven action, the situation was handled legally, peacefully, and village will not be a breeding ground for hate. We stand together for peace, unity, and safety. Thank you to L.H. SAW for their dedication and to all who continue to protect and uplift our Legal Violations (Ohio Revised Code)The suspect's actions may constitute several criminal offenses, including:Theft (ORC 2913.02): Knowingly stealing property, in this case, removing and taking a sign without (ORC 3767.32): Illegally dumping materials, including distributing hate propaganda, on public or private with Traffic Control Devices (ORC 4511.17): Destroying or removing a posted sign from a Motor Vehicle (ORC 4511.82): Disposing of materials from a moving car, as seen with the distribution of hate speech Intimidation (ORC 2927.12): Committing an offense motivated by race, color, religion, or national (ORC 2921.13): Knowingly lying to the police about one's appreciate the diligent efforts of L.H. SAW and local law enforcement in ensuring our community remains safe, protected, and free from acts of hate.#LHSaw #CommunityProtection #UnityOverHate #LincolnHeightsStrong
Posted by Malik Daronce Daniels on Sunday, February 23, 2025
"The Sheriff's Office does not condone nor agree with hate speech that is proliferated by anyone, including Nazis and the KKK," Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said in a statement Sunday. "The Sheriff's Office remains committed to working with the residents in the Village of Lincoln Heights to ensure their safety."
The possibility of future visits from white supremacists targeting the community has been top of mind for many Lincoln Heights residents recently. Fearing retribution after the residents' response earlier this month, some residents have taken their safety into their own hands, forming an armed neighborhood watch.
Previous reporting by The Enquirer found the new group has sometimes overstepped its bounds, having stopped people from passing through, approached cars in a fast food drive-thru and even once threatened to shoot a property owner.
McGuffey has said she has added extra resources to watch over Lincoln Heights. The community of roughly 3,100 people has contracted with the sheriff's office to patrol the village since it disbanded its police department in 2014 as a cost-cutting measure.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man ticketed for littering 'hate flyers' across Lincoln Heights
