Defense witnesses testify Randy Metcalf is not racist

Several witnesses, including a former Anamosa prison guard and two black men, testified Tuesday they knew Randy Metcalf, charged with federal hate crime, had a large swastika tattoo on his stomach but claimed he wasn't a racist.

Chris Appleton, a former co-worker who is black, and Dave Lorenz, former employer testified Metcalf was a bouncer at two Dubuque bars or nightclubs that mostly had black customers and they never overheard him use the N-word or had issues with any of the patrons.

'He's definitely not a racist,” Lorenz said.

Ricky Frankfurt, a retired Anamosa State Penitentiary correctional officer who knew Metcalf while he was in prison, said some inmates get tattoos, such as swastikas, to gain protection but it doesn't mean they are a racist. He said 50-60 percent of inmates at Anamosa had swastika tattoos.

Metcalf, 40, of Dubuque, is charged with committing a hate crime by causing bodily injury to Lamarr Sandridge, based on race. He is accused of repeatedly stomping and kicking Sandridge in the head during a fight at the North Side Bar in Dubuque on June 12, 2015 after making 'racially disparaging comments and racial slurs” to him and his female friends, according to the complaint.

The assault was captured on video surveillance cameras operating within the bar and the prosecution played it for the jurors on Monday in U.S. District Court. The prosecution rested Tuesday morning and the defense started and wrapped up testimony in the afternoon. Closing arguments will be at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.

Several witnesses testified Monday the Metcalf made racial slurs at Sandridge, 31, of Dubuque, and his two white female friends all night before he stomped and kicked Sandridge in the head. And the owner of the bar testified Metcalf showed him his swastika tattoo and talked about cross burnings and 'hating” black people.

Noelle Weyker of Dubuque, Metcalf's former fiancée, testified Tuesday she only heard Metcalf use the N-word in a 'friendly” way or singing it in a song, 'not directed at a person.” But she admitted during cross examination that Metcalf used the word in referring to his former inmates in prison.

Metcalf served prison time for domestic abuse and burglary in recent years, according to Iowa Courts online.

Weyker said the 'dark-haired one,” Katie Flores, a friend with Sandridge, got upset because Metcalf called her derogatory names when Weyker accused her of taking credits for songs on a jukebox. Weyker said Flores got pushy and tried to start a fight.

Weyker took out her cell phone to videotape the incident and it was 'slammed” out of hand and Metcalf 'charged” Flores. Then, a fight broke out and everybody, except her, 'jumped in,” She said she didn't hear Metcalf say any racial slurs.

Assistant Tony Morfitt asked Weyker if she testified before a grand jury that Sandridge wasn't involved in the jukebox dispute and that she wondered the next day why Metcalf kicked Sandridge.

Weyker said she did.

If convicted, Metcalf faces up to 10 years in federal prison.