7/16/03 Calling it a "promising development," State Attorney General Bill Lockyer/s office released statistics Tuesday that show a 26.6 percent drop in the number of hate crimes across the state after the numbers spiked in 2001.

According to the annual report, 1,659 events were reported last year by law enforcement agencies and district attorneys/ offices, down from 2,261 the year before.

A breakdown of those statistics shows that most cities along the Central Coast either saw numbers decrease or remain the same.

In San Luis Obispo County, law enforcement agencies reported 11 hate crimes, down from 16 in 2001. Santa Barbara County had 11 events, the same as the prior year.

"The number of reports we take are very, very low," said Sgt. Chris Pappas, spokesman for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff/s Department.

He could not recall any hate crimes reported to his department because they are so few and far between, he said.

Lompoc reported five hate crimes in 2002 and Santa Maria reported one hate crime. Neither city/s 2001 numbers were included in the state report. Guadalupe reported one hate crime in 2001 but its 2002 numbers were unavailable.

Totals from other area law enforcement agencies were: Arroyo Grande, 2 hate crimes in 2001 and 1 in 2002; Grover Beach 5, 4; Morro Bay 2, 1; San Luis Obispo, 3, 5; Santa Barbara, 6, 4; Santa Barbara County, 5, 3.

Some of the decrease can be attributed to efforts by law enforcement and the community to quell any problems the instant any arise, said Santa Maria Police Chief Dan Macagni.

Like the county-run areas around the city, Santa Maria had few hate crimes, with only two being reported within the last two months, said Santa Maria Police Commander Rad Mawhinney.

Both local incidents were traced to animosity over someone/s sexual orientation. In one, an acquaintance physically injured another in a fight. The other involved vandalism of a car.

"Someone poured glitter paint all over the car and left a note that implied the reason was the person/s lifestyle," Mawhinney said.

Some serious instances of hate crimes around the state have faded from the spotlight, though some cases, including that of three juveniles accused of severely beating an 18-year-old Muslim in Yorba Linda in February, continue to wind their way through the justice system.

Among notable decreases statewide: hate crimes based on race, ethnicity and national origin, 32.1 percent (1,036 crimes in 2002 vs. 1,526 in 2001); anti-Hispanic, 24.3 percent (156 vs. 206); anti-gay (male homosexual), 22.4 percent (267 vs. 344); anti-black, 19.1 percent (482 vs. 596); and anti-Islamic 81 percent (14 vs. 73).

Staff writer Gina Tenorio can be reached by e-mail at gtenorio@santamariatimes.com