Man charged for racial slur toward Black family in Fountain

Fountain, Colo. (KRDO) — A man is charged with harassment for using a racial slur at a Black family Sunday outside their home, according to the Fountain Police Department, but the victimized family says more charges should be filed.

Police say 29-year-old John Barclay is charged with harassment with a bias enhancer. Barclay was not booked into jail. Police say that’s standard policy for someone facing a misdemeanor charge.

Fountain police say the family also reported a different neighbor pulling out a handgun during a verbal altercation with teenagers in the early morning of July 5. Carrie Cox and her son, Shaun, spoke with KRDO and said this neighbor has threatened them before because they are Black. 

"If you've never experienced it, you'll never get it," she said.

Carrie's daughter, Alannah Cox, says the harassment has been going on for a year now. She claims the same man pointed a gun at her around Independence day 2019 and accused her of shooting off fireworks.

"He's like, 'I have a gun. You guys need to empty your pockets right now,'" Alannah recalls.

The Fountain Police Department says accusations against the second man are under investigation. Police have given information to the district attorney’s office.

"You want to tell us you just to take a statement? My son's life is worth more than a statement," Cox said.

Cox says if charges aren’t filed, her family plans to organize protests in Fountain.

"I hope that if it happens to your family, and if it's by a Black person, or a Mexican person, or any minority and you're white and it happens to your family, I hope the minority community doesn't judge you as harshly as you've judged the Black community for crying out," Cox said.