Girl's Rape Raises Racial Tensions

June 23, 2005 -- -- The reported rape of a 9-year-old girl in a southwestern Ohio town, suspected to have been committed by a Hispanic man, has led to vigilante violence and threats of attacks, but the alleged victim's father is asking for calm to let police find the culprit.

The Hamilton girl was allegedly raped Sunday at a home where some Hispanic men lived. The next day, the house was vandalized and set on fire, police said.

People who live on the street told ABCNews affiliate WCPO-TV in Cincinnati there have been threats against members of the Hispanic community, and they are worried that the violence may not be over.

Hamilton police told WCPO-TV they have no doubt the arson at the house was an act of retaliation by vigilantes.

The girl's father pleaded for calm in the neighborhood and asked his neighbors not to target Hispanic members of the community.

"Everybody thinks they're doing this for me or my daughter to get justice, but justice isn't being caught by burning down houses or beating up innocent people," he said. "Because what happened in that house is wrong, but the house itself is innocent. You know, the house didn't do nothing, the owners of that house didn't do nothing."

He told the station he can feel the tension on the street, and that the arson and the threats are not helping his daughter get justice.

"I wish they would just let police do their jobs, you know, calm down," the victim's father said. "With everyone running around with their heads cut off, if they get anyone they could get the wrong person or innocent."

The vigilante atmosphere and the attention it has drawn to the area has caused more problems for his daughter, he said. The little girl had to go stay with family friends to get away from the curiosity seekers, he said.