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A man who “specializes in killing Asian people” was arrested after attacking an Asian female police officer in San Francisco’s Chinatown on Friday.
What happened: The man came for the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) officer when she tried to detain him for his alleged claim.
- The incident, which was caught on surveillance video, occurred near Clay and Kearny Streets by Portsmouth Square just before 7 p.m.
- The officer, who has not been named, was responding to a call about a man making racially motivated threats in Chinatown.
- In the video, the officer is seen ordering the man to turn around and put his hands on his head, to which he complies.
- But when the officer asked if he had any weapons, the man turned around, grabbed her and wrestled her on the ground.
- Multiple bystanders came to the officer’s aid and helped secure the man before other deputies arrived.
The aftermath: The man was arrested on the scene while the officer was taken to a hospital with minor injuries.
- The assailant, identified as Gerardo Contreras, is believed to be homeless, according to KTVU.
- Documents obtained by ABC7 show Contreras has prior arrests, including aggravated assault, elder abuse and assaults on other officers elsewhere in California.
- Prior to the attack, Contreras allegedly said that he “specializes in killing Asian people” and that “Chinese people don’t belong here.”
- SFPD spokesperson Robert Rueca said the investigation is “looking at aspects of this assault on the officer which includes a possible hate crime and motive,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
- It’s unclear if Contreras had been convicted in any of his previous arrests.
Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD at (415) 575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 beginning with “SFPD.”
Source: Yahoo News
