PORTLAND, Maine — Portland police have made an arrest in what they are calling a hate crime against a group of teens from Casco Bay High School.

Word of the arrest came only a short time after students from around the city came together Friday afternoon to show support for the alleged victims.





Officials said the group of teens endured racial slurs and were threatened at a bus stop.

Jamie Hoffman, 20, has been charged with interference of constitutional and civil rights, plus two counts of assault and criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon.

Police said Hoffman began yelling racial slurs at black students last week at a bus stop near Casco Bay High School. He also allegedly assaulted and threatened the students with a screwdriver.

On Friday, students came together in what they called a city-wide show of solidarity.

They call it a message of unity, with students from nearby Baxter Academy joining as well.

The city’s superintendent said students in a human rights class helped organize the event, with the district allowing an early dismissal for these rallies.

On Monday, students at Casco Bay High School held a similar event, all reacting to the reported hate crime.

The students said that incident made many feel unsafe, and that this event did the opposite.