Essex County is now asking for the Public's help as they investigate two bias incidents in West Orange investigators are looking for the suspects who damage a cafe evidence finding a bias against the lgbtq community the prosecutor's office is investigating another case after a small business owner received a racially biased phone call and threats to her business that business owner speaks to senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan for the first time could have been anybody riding by and just got triggered owner Garan Dickson figures his pride Flags enraged somebody but Dickson's got no idea who trashed his Cafe's entryway last Wednesday night smashing the door smearing black paint all over the Harper's Cafe facade and to facing Pride Flags he just hung up then someone hurled a brick through the West Orange Cafe's window the next evening police are still looking for suspects I know they're trying everything they're canvas in the neighborhood they're interviewing people they're checking cameras so I don't know how much more they can do as for me I am scared I'm say that I'm not because I'm here exposing myself Ambar Jimenez owns the photoshop right next door to Harper's Cafe she says a woman called anonymously last Thursday from an unidentified number and asked her if she wears braids because she's Black Jimenez answered no she's Dominican she said why if you are not black are you wearing braids that I was in ignorant that um I didn't know the history behind it that um yeah that we were appropriating their culture because of your answer we are going to do something to your business the caller told her that she should move to another neighborhood threatening to harm her business Essex County's acting prosecutor says they're investigating both incidents and left no doubt they rise above simple malice there were two bias incidents reported last week one involving sexual orientation and the other involving race you can do it anonymously but we need the Public's help in combating this hatred investigators will check surveillance cameras there's one visible exterior camera on the building but Dickinson says drapes he'd drawn behind the front windows might have impeded the view of cameras inside his Cafe a lot of times these cases happen at the cover of night Darkness videos don't pick up everything that can be observed so if somebody's driving by and they see something or they they hear something or they know something you know reach out to the tip line Nationwide hate crime times are spiking Essex County log 98 bias incidents last year but in west and south Orange the last major incident we had related to a biased crime the person was from another municipality board in municipality and I think that sort of suggests and it wouldn't surprise me in this case it's the same as West Orange being such a diverse and inviting Community is that we're a good Target this is such a diverse and loving neighborhood we've never ever expected but you know something as anywhere else you live you know there's always going to be that one David Apple I live in South Orange are known for being very lgbtq positive and black rights matter signs are everywhere so this is surprising in our neighborhood Dickinson spent the morning hanging the plywood that had covered broken windows now decorated by well wishers and his pride flags are going back up I know how I feel I know what I choose to support so I will I fly them again absolutely p people driving by often honk their horns in support of the cafe.

Dickinson says he'll reopen it tomorrow complete with extra surveillance cameras in West Orange I'm Brenda Flanagan NJ Spotlight News