Police hold transient suspected of committing a hate crime

FREMONT >> A 29-year-old transient is in county jail after his arrest on suspicion of multiple charges, including a hate crime, authorities said.

Around 10 a.m. Thursday, police responded to a report of an assault on the 42200 block of Fremont Boulevard near Blacow Road, police said.

While headed there, dispatchers gave police a description and direction of flight for a suspect. When officers arrived, they learned that a suspect hit a victim with a rock and his hand.

After witnesses to the attack told officers which way the suspect headed, they were able to find and detain him around 10:45 a.m.

The suspect, identified as Trevor Dicks, 29, told police the victim’s ethnicity was the attack’s motive.

Dicks was taken to Santa Rita Jail, where he was booked on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon not using a firearm, a felony hate crime charge with violent injury, a misdemeanor battery with serious bodily injury charge, and violation of his probation.

Fremont police declined to share any details about the victim’s ethnicity.

In a statement, the department said: “Fremont is a caring and compassionate City that celebrates diversity. This incident is not reflective of our community and our hearts go out to the victim and her family.”

Following up on the arrest, officers learned Dicks was a suspect in a separate assault on a female employee at another business Thursday and added misdemeanor battery and vandalism charges. He faces arraignment Monday at East County Hall of Justice, according to county records.

Anyone with information should call Fremont police’s crimes-against-persons unit at 510-790-6900 or go to local.nixle.com/tip/ alert/6216337.