May 21, 2013
Covington County authorities are treating an incident that was reported earlier this week as a hate crime.
A burning cross was found outside a black family's Andalusia home.
The cross was reportedly found beside Melissa Williams mobile home in the Weed Trailer Court before dawn on Monday.
She didn't see the burning cross, but it was reported to police by her neighbor. By the time authorities arrived, the cross had been removed.
Darren Lawson and his daughter live nearby. He says it's hard to believe in this day and time, something like this could happen.
Chief Williams believes his investigators are close to making an arrest in the case.
The chief says this is the first hate crime he's investigated in Andalusia, since becoming chief three years ago.
