Houston man charged with a hate crime
Suspect at large; driver’s heritage reason for attack
A Houston man is on the run after being accused Thursday of attacking a Lyft driver because of the driver’s heritage, which is a hate crime.
Matthew W. Dunn, 39, was charged Tuesday with assault that caused bodily injury, according to court records.
Prosecutors announced the hate crime allegations Thursday.
If convicted, Dunn would face a harsher punishment because of the accusations he selected his victim based on prejudice against the man’s race, religion or national origin.
“We came through Harvey because of the cooperation of our diverse communities and their willingness to help each other without regard to race, creed or color,” Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said. “A hate crime unleashes fear in an entire community.”
Dunn is accused of berating early July 21 a Lyft driver because of his background and religion while Dunn was a passenger in the man’s car.
The driver picked up Dunn just after 2 a.m., said Nathan Beedle, the misdemeanor division chief at the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Midway through the ride, Dunn is accused of hurling obscenities at the driver, based on his perception the driver was Muslim and from Pakistan.
Dunn is also accused of grabbing the driver’s hair and punching him and choking him, as the driver drove Dunn near the 13500 block of the Northwest Freeway.
During the melee, the driver’s shirt was ripped and he was injured, Beedle said.
Authorities believe Dunn eventually got out of the car. He chased the vehicle as the driver headed to safety.
Dunn might have moved on to another victim, Beedle added.
The driver called officers with the Houston Police Department who, about 15 minutes later, were flagged down by a security guard at a nearby motel, Beedle said.
The guard told officers he had been approached by a man authorities believe was Dunn.
He said Dunn had put him in a headlock and was speaking incoherently, Beedle said.
Dunn has not been charged in connection with the second suspected incident.
It is under investigation, Beedle said.
Both happened within about 30 minutes, Beedle said.
Dunn faces at least 180 days in jail if he is convicted. Dunn has two prior criminal convictions in Harris County. He pleaded guilty in February to the felony charge of possession of less than 1 gram of a controlled substance.
In 2012, he was convicted of assault causing bodily injury.
Crime Stoppers of Houston is offering up to $5,000 for information that could lead to his whereabouts.
Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.