AntiAsian violence cases in S.F. wind through courts
A rash of antiAsian violence has shaken the Bay Area and the nation over the past several weeks, with San Francisco witnessing a series of attacks that have inspired heightened awareness of xenophobia, hate and violence levied at the city’s Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
In San Francisco, several of the suspects in these cases have been arrested by police, charged by District Attorney Chesa Boudin’s office and are now making their way through the court system. Some are being treated as hate crimes, some are not and still others are still being investigated. Prosecutors say it’s notoriously difficult for them to prove an incident was a hate crime since it requires evidence that the crime was motivated by racial bias.
Here’s a roundup of some recent crimes against San Francisco’s AAPI community, and where they stand in the criminal justice system.
⏩ Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84yearold Thai immigrant, was out on a morning walk on Jan. 28 when he was shoved to the ground, hitting his head to the pavement. Ratanapakdee died at a hospital shortly thereafter, and the suspect, 19yearold Antoine Watson of Daly City, was charged with murder and elder abuse. Watson has pleaded not guilty and his next court date is scheduled for April 26. He is being held without bail.
⏩ Steven Jenkins, 39, was arrested following what police called an “unprovoked” attack on two older Asian people near 7th and Market streets on March 17. The case drew nearly $1 million in donations from a GoFundMe page set up by the grandson of one of the victims, Xiao Zhen Xie. The family has said they will donate the money back to the Asian American community to “combat racism.” Jenkins faces six felony charges, including assault and elder abuse. Jenkins has pleaded not guilty and will be held in jail pending trial. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in court on April 9.
⏩ On March 13, Army veteran Ron Tuason was at a bus stop near Ocean and Plymouth avenues when a suspect identified as Victor Brown approached him, used an antiAsian slur and punched him several times. Brown, 53, is facing a felony assault charge with a hate crime enhancement. Brown will be held in jail pending trial and his next hearing is scheduled for April 9. ⏩ Danny Yu Chang was walking through San Francisco’s Financial District on March 16 when an assailant struck him from behind and left him unconscious. Police that evening announced the arrest of 32yearold Jorge DevisMilton in connection with the battery of Yu Chang and a stabbing of a 64yearold white man that same day. Prosecutors charged DevisMilton with six felonies, including aggravated mayhem and battery with serious bodily injury. He is next due in court April 14.
⏩ San Francisco police arrested three suspects in connection with the attack of a 67yearold man in a Chinatown laundromat on Feb. 23. Suspects Calvin Berschell, Jason Orozco and Nolowde
Beshears, all 19 and all from Antioch, allegedly assaulted and robbed the victim before fleeing, police said. Prosecutors charged all three with various felonies including robbery, kidnapping and elder abuse, and at least two of the suspects are scheduled to appear in court April 5.
⏩ San Francisco police last week arrested a woman in what they called an unprovoked attack on three Asian men near Nob Hill. Two of the three victims were injured, and all three reported they had been attacked by the same person. Emmi Lopez is
facing assault and battery charges. Lopez has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was ordered to be held without bail. She is next due on court April 7.
⏩ Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of 45yearold Darrell Hunter, who police said on Sunday entered a business near the 300 block of Golden Gate Avenue and “threatened to shoot Chinese people.” A 42yearold Asian woman victimized by the incident said the suspect used a hand gesture to simulate shooting the business’ occupants and then left. Police are in
vestigating the incident as a hate crime, and booked Hunter on suspicion of multiple crimes, including criminal threats, burglary and hate crime enhancements. Prosecutors said Wednesday they would charge him with crimes including criminal threats, stalking and a hate crime allegation. They will also ask that he be detained while awaiting trial.