Berkeley Police said officers arrested three people on suspicion of three separate hate crimes in May in a troubling uptick of racially motivated violence in a community renowned for progressive ideals and politics.
One incident happened on May 16 at 2:24 p.m., police stated.
“A suspect walked inside Casa Latina Bakery at 1805 San Pablo Ave. and began pointing at different customers—simulating a firearm with his hand and telling them he was going to kill them,” according to police. “The suspect then directed his attention at one of the restaurant’s staff. The suspect cursed the staff person and made disparaging comments toward people of Mexican descent. When the staff person asked the suspect to leave, the suspect told the staff person that he wanted to kill him and placed his hands inside his waistband (as if he was reaching for a weapon).”
Police arrested a 60-year-old man with no known address on May 26 in connection with the crime. The suspect was found inside Willard Park.
In a separate incident on May 19 at 6:39 p.m., another man is accused of creating a violent ruckus not far from the Casa Latina Bakery.
“A suspect entered a 7-11 store at 2000 San Pablo Ave. and opened up a bag of chips,” police stated. “When the clerk asked the suspect to leave the store, the suspect became aggressive and started yelling threatening statements and comments that are disparaging of persons of foreign descent. When officers found the suspect nearby, the suspect refused to stop and ran into the street (back and forth on University Avenue). Officers maintained eye contact on the suspect until the suspect tripped over his own feet. Officers then arrested the suspect, a 63-year-old Berkeley man, on suspicion of vandalism, resisting arrest, and willfully threatening a person based on their perceived characteristics — considered a hate crime.”
The latest incident happened On May 23 at 11:45 a.m., also not far from the previous two crimes.
“A person reported that they were struck by a suspect after a dispute outside of Nation’s Giant Hamburgers at 1800 University Ave.,” police stated “During that dispute, the suspect came very close to the victim (within one inch) and yelled comments disparaging of persons of Caucasian descent. When the victim turned away from the suspect, the suspect struck the victim in the back and continued yelling.”
“The suspect, a 61-year-old Berkeley man, was arrested on suspicion of Battery and willfully threatening a person based on their perceived characteristics — considered a hate crime,” police added.
Hate crimes have become a top concern for law enforcement, particularly those targeting Asians, which have spiked in communities throughout the Bay Area since the pandemic. Oakland, San Leandro, San Francisco, San Jose, Hayward, Richmond, El Cerrito have all seen instances of racially motivated crimes in the last year.
“Anti-Asian hate crime in 16 of America’s largest cities increased 149% in 2020 according to an analysis of official preliminary police data by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, with the first spike occurring in March and April amidst a rise in COVID cases and negative stereotyping of Asians relating to the pandemic,” according to a CSUSB study published last year.