Home Scandal and Gossip Hate crime: White man attempts to strike interracial couple with car

Hate crime: White man attempts to strike interracial couple with car

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James Descant
Pictured, Metaire, Lousiana man, James Descant.
James Descant
Pictured, Metaire, Lousiana man, James Descant.

James Descant: White Louisiana man with disdain for mixed race relations arrested after  running down an interracial couple in his suburban truck. 

A white Louisiana man with a ‘disdain’ for mixed race relationships has been arrested after running down an interracial couple in his suburban truck. 

James Descant, 50, of Metaire was arrested on April 17 on charges including hate crimes and aggravated assault. 

According to investigators, the incident occurred April 16 about 9 p.m. after the couple, a 32-year-old black man and a 31-year-old white woman, saw Descant while walking to a convenience store.

It was at this moment that Descant drove his pick up truck at them- swerving in an attempt to run them over. The man managed to jump out of the way, but his girlfriend was struck, police said.

Descant hit the woman, injuring her hip, wrist, and foot. Her boyfriend managed to jump out of the way, according to Nola.com

She was taken to Ochsner Medical Center for treatment, where they determined she suffered a broken foot. 

Descant allegedly attacked them on account of their interracial relationship, according to Capt. Jason Rivarde of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. Police said the couple did nothing to provoke Descant’s attack.

The man told deputies that Descant used a racist slur to describe their relationship and threatened to kill him before the attack. 

The couple told police they had interacted with Descant at a local motel within a week of the incident. 

When asked for a motive behind the attack a representative for the JPSO said Descant harbors ‘disdain’ for interracial couples.

Descant was arrested around 1.30am on April 17 at a Metairie motel and booked into Jefferson Parish Correctional Center.  

At the time of his arrest, Descant was also wanted by Kenner Police.

In addition to hate crimes and aggravated assault he was charged with aggravated second-degree battery and simple criminal damage to property for hitting $500-worth of bottled water cases in front of the gas station store. 

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Descant is being held on $101,000 bond for the incident. 

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