Sikh group urges hate crime charges
Three men beat a man, 41, and cut off his hair with a knife, police say
RICHMOND — Prosecutors are expected to file charges Friday against two ex-Chevron contractors accused in the knife attack and beating of a 41-year-old Sikh man at a Richmond intersection last month.
Officials at the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office were still reviewing the case Thursday afternoon and they expected to file charges in the morning.
They are considering hate crime charges, which are advocated by The Sikh Coalition and others.
Around 30 faith-based and community advocacy groups on Thursday sent a letter to the DA’s Office calling for hate crime charges on the belief that Richmond resident Maan Singh Khalsa was attacked on Sept. 25 because of his religion and/or Punjabi ancestry.
The Social Security Administration employee and Richmond father is waiting to hear if his finger must be amputated because an of infection to one of the cuts he received while he fought off his attackers who used a pocket knife to cut off a fistful of his religiously mandated unshorn hair.
“It is vital that hate crimes are appropriately investigated, documented and prosecuted. Failure to do so silences and further marginalizes communities that experience biasmotivated violence and discourages them from reporting acts of violence committed against their communities,” the letter reads.
Chase Little, 31, of Beaumont, Texas, and Dustin Albarado, 25, of Ponchatoula, Louisiana, were arrested on suspicion of felony assault and released on bail the night Khalsa was attacked by three seemingly drunken men at a red light on Hilltop Mall Drive, according to authorities.
A third attacker has not been yet identified by authorities.
Authorities said the attackers were staying at a Richmond hotel while they worked as contractors for Chevron, which fired them after the arrests.
They were allegedly driving around drunk when they first saw Khalsa stopped at an intersection and threw a beer can at him.
After Khalsa threw the can back, they allegedly followed him and attacked him on Hilltop Mall Drive through his driver’s window.
During the attack, the assailants removed his turban and cut off a fistful of his hair, according to the coalition.
“Targeting a Sikh’s turban and hair is analogous to targeting a Jewish or Muslim person because of their religious garb,” the letter reads.
Khalsa suffered a black eye, thousands of dollars in dental damage, and numerous cuts during the ordeal.
News of the attack spurred Richmond Mayor Tom Butt to issue sympathies to the Sikh community, which has a large population in Contra Costa County and sees an uptick of violence against its members after terrorist attacks and during election cycles. Contact Malaika Fraley at 925-234-1684. Richmond resident Maan Singh Khalsa, 41, was attacked on Sept. 25.