Berkeley, California (Wednesday, January 13, 2021) - On January 12th at 4:03 pm, a woman in her 30’s was walking on the 2500 block of Durant Avenue when she encountered a suspect rummaging through a trash can. As the woman continued to walk, the suspect yelled at the woman. When the woman attempted to walk around the suspect, the suspect pushed the woman off the curb—causing the woman to fall onto her back about 4’ into the roadway. During the encounter, the suspect yelled several hateful statements about people of Mexican descent.
Officers located the suspect (a 55-year-old woman, no address) on the 2500 block of Durant Avenue and arrested her on suspicion of PC 242—Battery, PC 422.6(a)—willfully threatening a person based on their perceived characteristics, PC 1203.2—violation of probation as well as an outstanding arrest warrant.
A hate crime is a crime against a person, group, or property motivated by the victim’s real or perceiving protected social group (see Information Bulletin on Hate Crime Laws).
The Berkeley Police Department recognizes and places a high priority on the rights of all individuals guaranteed under state and federal law. The commission of a hate crime is a serious offense, which will not be tolerated in the City of Berkeley.
For more information about Hate Crimes and reporting, visit the CA Attorney General’s website resources.
Case 2021-00001512