An inmate in a California jail could face hate crime charges for punching Asian American employee: report
An inmate at a California jail who was seen on video attacking a 54-year-old Asian American worker could be charged with a hate crime, according to the Associated Press.
A graphic video of the incident shows the Los Angeles County jail inmate identified by authorities as Arnulfo Meza, 29, punching the woman — who works as a custody assistant— several times at the Inmate Reception Center on Wednesday.
LA Sheriff’s Custody Assistant Brutally Assaulted in an unprovoked attack by Inmate at the Inmate Reception Center.
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) May 8, 2021
To read more visit: https://t.co/LkrziYK2A2 pic.twitter.com/In3TgcAk7z
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said Meza asked the woman to use the bathroom when his "left hand was unsecured from his waist chain."
The unidentified woman was trying to hand Meza toilet paper when he struck her, resulting in her falling to the ground. The woman was sent to a local hospital to get treated for face and head injuries.
According to the department, Meza "was transported to a high-security area and is pending assault and hate crime charges."
The incident is the latest in violent attacks against Asian Americans. Earlier this week in San Francisco, police arrested a man accused of stabbing two Asian women waiting at a bus stop. In April, a 61-year-old man was violently attacked in New York City while trying to collect cans to support his family.
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