Aug 20, 2004   | COMMENTS     

Fairfax County Police this week released a sketch of one of two men wanted for allegedly assaulting a gay man in a Falls Church park after using an Internet chat room to lure him there. The drawing, which police have distributed across the county, portrays the primary assailant, a white man in his 20s with a slim build and chiseled features. Officer Bud Walker, a spokesperson for the police, said the victim has also provided them with enough information for a sketch of the second perpetrator — a Hispanic man of medium height and weight — that they will release next week. Virginia’s hate crime law doesn’t cover sexual orientation, but police officials classified the incident as a bias crime. Detectives have also given this case high priority due to the element of coercion, Walker said. The 20-year-old victim, whose name police declined to disclose, met his attackers in the early morning hours of July 23 at Jefferson Square Park after exchanging several messages on www.gaypersonals.com. At the park, the two men confirmed that the victim was gay, then started to beat him extensively, Walker said without adding details of the assault. “The point that concerns us — beyond the assault — is the fact that one of the perpetrators enticed his victim, then beat him,” Walker said. “Bias crimes involving physical violence are rarely premeditated. This was just evil.” But new information about the incident confirms that a witness to the crime called police — not the victim. Upon their arrival, a patrol officer convinced the man to press charges, police said. “I can’t characterize the mind of this victim, but he might have felt embarrassed or ashamed,” Walker said. “All I can do is emphasize that if you are the victim of a crime, we don’t care what your background is or your preferences. We care about you, and we don’t want bias crime in our community.” Anyone with information regarding this incident or the perpetrator is asked to call Fairfax County Police at 703-691-2131 or Fairfax County Crime Solvers at 800-673-2777.
ADRIAN BRUNE

Gay bar manager found dead in Maryland canal
The Cecil County, Md., Sheriff’s Department said it was continuing an investigation this week into the death of D.C. gay bar manager William “Billy” Manthey, 42, whose body was found Aug. 2 in the Chesapeake & Delaware Canal in Chesapeake City, Md. A sheriff’s department spokesperson said a boater discovered Manthey’s body two days after his son reported him missing from his 44-foot sailboat, which had been docked on the canal in Chesapeake City. The spokesperson, Sgt. Bernard Chiominto, said the son told investigators that Manthey left the boat about 7 a.m. Saturday, July 31, to buy a newspaper and never returned. The son, Jerry Griswell, 25, told authorities that he and Manthey had been sailing from the D.C. area en route to Fire Island, N.Y., according to Chiominto. Chiominto said the Maryland Medical Examiner’s office in Baltimore issued a preliminary finding that the cause of death was drowning. But he said the investigation remains open to determine how Manthey wound up in the canal and whether the death should be classified as an accident or suicide or whether foul play was involved. Steve Weinstein, co-owner of the Dupont Circle gay bar the Fireplace, said Manthey helped to operate and manage the bar on behalf of his domestic partner, Dr. David Griswell, who is a corporate partner in the company that owns the establishment. Weinstein said Manthey also helped to operate and manage the D.C. gay bar Green Lantern before the Weinstein-Griswell group sold that bar several years ago. Friends said Manthey took great joy in sailing his and his partner’s boat with friends and family members.
LOU CHIBBARO JR.

Rehoboth Beach elects second gay commissioner
Patrick Gossett became the second openly gay city commissioner in Rehoboth Beach last Saturday. Gossett, who received 524 votes, joins Mark Aguirre, the city’s first openly gay city commissioner who was elected in 2002. The incumbent, Richard Seagent, received 500 votes, allowing him to maintain his seat. With two seats open, Tjark Batemans, the third candidate who earned 419 votes, lost the race. Gossett has a background in association management. He has served for six years on the Rehoboth Beach Planning Commission.
JOE CREA

Camp Rehoboth acquires property for $1.65 million
Camp Rehoboth, a nonprofit gay community center in Rehoboth Beach, Del., has acquired a property next door to the popular gay bar, Blue Moon. The new location, 37 Baltimore Ave., will occupy the former site of Our Place restaurant. Steve Elkins, the editor and publisher of Letters from Camp Rehoboth, a ...