Panelists back racial remarks complaint

AUGUSTA – A man with law enforcement ties in Knox County more than likely racially harassed a black neighbor, the Maine Human Rights Commission concluded Monday.

The commission ruled that Steve Dawe, a black man of Warren and his family were likely harassed by Charles Ball, who now lives in Rockland.

Commission investigator Barbara Lelli found that Ball – when accompanied by a male guest at his half of the duplex apartment Ball and the Dawe family shared – made racial insults toward Dawe.

Dawe said Ball hooted “coon, coon,” at him, and made sounds like a monkey, directed at Dawe.

On Monday, Ball vehemently denied what he called the “horrific” allegations, and complained the investigation was not conducted fairly. He said he offered to submit to a polygraph test to show his innocence, but the offer was ignored.

“I have friends that are African-American,” Ball told commissioners.

Ball also said he moved after Dawe’s complaint was filed and failed to get the notice of a fact-finding hearing. Instead, Lelli interviewed Ball by telephone to get his side of the dispute.

“I should have gotten an attorney,” Ball told commissioners.

He also said his frequent guest at the apartment should have been interviewed by Lelli, and that the investigator did not speak with another neighbor he suggested be contacted.

Two other neighbors confirmed Dawe’s claims about the racial harassment, Lelli reported.

Ball said he had “an outstanding record” with 11 years’ experience as a public servant, working as an emergency dispatcher and a police officer. That experience taught him how an investigation should be conducted and that Lelli’s investigation was not fair, he said.

Speaking on behalf of Dawe, attorney Patricia Ender said Dawe tried to resolve the dispute with Ball, but Ball would not get involved.

Ball first said he was moving from the duplex in August, but did not move until December, evidence, she said, “of the sneaky nature of Mr. Ball.”

Ender said Ball would use charm to persuade people of his innocence, but in fact said “very creepy and very disturbing things.” The racial remarks came when one or more men were with him, she said, suggesting he was performing for an audience.

Lelli said when Ball missed the fact-finding hearing, she offered to meet with him in person to get his version of the facts, but that Ball chose to conduct the interview by phone.

The investigator said she left a message for the neighbor Ball wanted interviewed, but the neighbor did not call back. And Ball did not provide any information about the guest who may have witnessed the racial remarks, so Lelli could not interview him.

Lelli told commissioners the case came down to a judgment on credibility, and she found Dawe’s complaint was more credible than Ball’s denial.

Commissioners voted unanimously that Dawe’s complaint had reasonable grounds. Earlier, they found no reasonable grounds to Dawe’s complaint that the men’s landlord, John McCusker of Rockport, did not try to stop the harassment.

Complaints supported by the commission proceed to conciliation hearings. If that process fails, the complaint can continue to Superior Court, where a final settlement can include monetary damages.

Commissioners found no reasonable grounds in the following complaints:

. Larry Casey of Pittsfield v. State of Maine-Land Use Regulation Commission.

. Robert Wadsworth of Owls Head v. Home Depot of Rockland.

. Alan Button of Waldoboro v. Staples of Rockland.

. Raffi Jacobi of Bangor v. Robert Stagg Jr. of Old Orchard Beach.