Hate Crime Suspect Arrested with Help of Social Media

Steve Boddie is just trying to fulfill his dream of opening his own restaurant. But a racial slur on the outside back wall of the soon-to-be Stevie B's was there to greet him early June 6th.

"It said, 'Stevie B' - that would be me - 'is a n-----,'" Boddie explained to NBC Connecticut on Friday, hours after West Haven Police had arrested 60-year-old Edward Mattei, who lives near the establishment.

"I immediately called the police. They came out and took a report," said Boddie.

Fortunately, the budding restaurateur had had security in mind from early on.

"I knew I had just installed two new cameras outside," Boddie smiled, "so I went down to go find out if I could figure out who did this, and, lo and behold, as I'm running back to video feed, there he was".

Boddie shared the video with law enforcement, but the real break for him and for police came after Boddie posted the same footage on Facebook.

"It went viral. I got tons of feedback - good feedback - folks knew this guy, had seen him in the neighborhood before".

A relieved Boddie says he's naturally offended as he describes the offender's actions as captured by the camera eye.

"He walks a few steps, spits on the ground, turns around and kind of admires his work, and then he wanders off through the parking lot".

But his resourcefulness in posting the video is matched by his sense of humor, despite the offense.

"[The offender] didn't know how to spell my name," Boddie said with a laugh, "so he had to look on my door sign!"

Boddie says he actually saw the man in the video, days later in the same alley, and confronted him, only to receive a puzzling reply.

"When I asked him why he wrote on the wall, his response was that he was merely inquiring as to whether or not the owner of this establishment was African-American".

Only a few moments is all it takes to sense that Boddie is serious about his business and doesn't suffer fools gladly...

"I don't have that bias, I love everyone as if they were my own family, I can't control this person," he says.

But his response when asked what he would do if the perpetrator were to come in to the restaurant as a patron is gracious.

"His thoughts are his thoughts, and I don't hate him because of his thoughts," Boddie postulated, "I hate what he did; I hate the act. But, him as a person? I'd buy him a beer".

Stevie B's is located at 555 Campbell Avenue in West Haven. Boddie says his target opening night is Friday, July 17th.
 

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