COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – A Coldwater high school senior was arraigned yesterday in Branch County District Court on a charge of felony ethnic intimidation.
Coldwater City Police investigated the allegations made against the suspect identified as 18-year old Jay Allen Neusbaum the third, who lives in the village of Quincy. Neusbaum was booked at the County Jail Thursday afternoon in connection with the incident that police say occurred at the high school last month on February 22nd.
According to officers, the alleged crime happened on a CHS bus in the high school parking lot after classes had let out for the day. Police say Neusbaum and the reported victim, a 15-year old black male from Quincy Township, were arguing and swearing at each other on the bus. Witnesses on the bus told authorities that Neusbaum used the “N” word during the incident and also reportedly said he was going to “ kill everyone or someone on the bus”. Police say, however, that the matter wasn’t reported to the high school administration until more than a week later on March 2.
Coldwater Police issued a statement about the incident on Friday. They said the situation was not a physical confrontation and at no time during the incident was anyone in danger of any physical harm
Bond for Neusbaum was set at $25,000 with the court ordering he have no contact with the alleged victim. According to police, the suspect and the 15-year old were friends. Neusbaum is due back in District Court for a probable cause hearing on March 15th. Ethnic intimidation is a crime punishable by up to 2-years in prison and or a $5,000 fine.
