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An Iowa woman who told police she intentionally ran over a
teenager because she believed the girl was Mexican has been
charged with another hit-and-run crash that hurt a 12-year-old
boy. Nicole Franklin, who also goes by the name Nicole Poole,
was charged Monday by Des Moines police with attempted murder in
connection with a December 9 crash that occurred less than an
hour before another crash in suburban Clive.

In the latest charge, Franklin was accused of leaving a roadway,
travelling onto a sidewalk and hitting a 12-year-old boy in an
apartment complex in Des Moines. The boy suffered minor injuries.

Witnesses to the crash told police that the vehicle accelerated
prior to the crash, drove onto the sidewalk and hit the boy, CBS
Des Moines affiliate KCCI reported.

Des Moines police Sergeant Paul Parizek told KCCI did not
discuss her motive for hitting the 12-year-old with
investigators.

In the other incident, Franklin was charged with attempted
murder after a sport utility vehicle hit a 14-year-old who was
walking to school to watch a basketball game. The girl suffered
a concussion and severe bruising and was hospitalized for two
days.

Franklin made derogatory statements about Latinos during a
police interview in which she admitted intentionally running
over the teenager.

Separately, Franklin was charged Sunday with assault in
violation of individual rights and with operating under the
influence, second offense. Those charges came after Franklin
allegedly went to a convenience store where she threw items at a
clerk and directed racial epithets at him and customers.

Franklin's attorney didn't return a call Monday from The
Associated Press.

On Sunday, Domingo Garcia, national president of the League of
United Latin American Citizens, called for a hate crime charge
against Franklin in the attack on the girl.

Joe Henry, who is president of the group's Des Moines branch,
echoed Garcia's call and told The Des Moines Register that it
would be wrong if prosecutors did not charge her with a hate
crime.

"It would give the green light to anybody to do this type of
terrible thing," Henry said.

Polk County Attorney John Sarcone said a hate crime charge
enhances other charges, such as arson and assault, but doesn't
apply to attempted murder.

"It may sound nice, but it doesn't help anything," Sarcone said.
"When it's appropriate to enhance, we'll do it."

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nicole-franklin-iowa-woman-accused- in-racist-hit-and-run-charged-in-another-crash-2019-12-23/

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