CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Police in Clarksville are investigating who burned a cross in front of a church and why.
Sgt. Charles Gill told The Leaf-Chronicle (http://leafne.ws/1mDrMu3 ) the case is classified as a hate crime because it met all the criteria for reporting hate crimes to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the FBI. Gill says investigators have no leads initially.
A church member saw the cross propped up against a closed gate at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church's parking lot on Tuesday morning and reported it to the police.
Other than scorch marks on the gate, there was no property damage.
Pastor Vernon Hooks says "Whoever did it, we forgive him."