Police: Collingdale Mayor-elect Felecia Coffee target of racist, sexist messages at her home

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Thursday, November 14, 2019
Police: Collingdale Mayor-elect Felecia Coffee target of racist, sexist messages at her home
Collingdale Mayor-elect Felecia Coffee target of racist, sexist messages at her home, police say: Corey Davis reports on Action News Mornings, November 14, 2019

COLLINGDALE, Pennsylvania (WPVI) -- Authorities are investigating racially charged hate-filled messages left at the home of Collingdale Mayor-elect Felecia Coffee.

The messages, too graphic to show or say in their entirety, call her disparaging words, including the n-word, telling her to die or leave the borough.

Coffee said someone taped the messages to the front doors of her home. Another note was left inside an enclosed porch, which meant someone walked through a door to get inside that area.

"It bothered me, it bothered me because the night before, my daughter and I were sleeping on the couch," said Coffee.

"I didn't hear anything," said Coffee.

Police: Collingdale mayor-elect target of racist, sexist messages at her home. Christie Ileto has more on Action News at 10 p.m. on November 13, 2019.

The Collingdale police are investigating the incident.

Detectives took the messages written in black marker into evidence and searched nearby properties for cameras to identify the suspect.

Collingdale Police Chief Kenneth Felker told Action News the case was turned over to the district attorney's special prosecution unit.

Coffee said the harassment started on social media during the campaign, but she never expected it to escalate.

"Maybe they just wanted to scare me, or intimidate me," said Coffee.

But Coffee said she is not intimidated.

"I understand that people are very passionate for what they believe in, I get that. I get it. But your passion should spew over in another way, instead of such a derogatory way," she said. "I'm not going anywhere. The people have elected me to represent Collingdale. And for the people who didn't, I would hope that we could still come together."