Hate Crime Charges Dropped Against Dubuque Man

Felony hate crime charges have been dismissed against a Dubuque man accused of using racial epithets and swinging a flashlight at a group of teenagers outside a Dubuque grocery store. 56 year old Bob Phillips was previously charged in Iowa District Court of Dubuque County with four counts of assault while displaying a dangerous weapon — violation of individual rights and one count of disorderly conduct. The charges were dismissed following a motion from the Dubuque County Attorney’s Office. According to a report, officers responded July 17 to a grocery store on Elm Street, for a report of a disturbance involving juveniles and a man outside the store’s entrance. Four juveniles, ranging from ages 12 to 15 were confronted by Phillips the entrance. The juveniles told police that Phillips yelled a racial epithet at them multiple times and threw a lit cigarette in their direction before pulling a flashlight from the right side of his body and swinging it at them.