A San Francisco police officer responding to a name a couple of man making threats to folks in Chinatown was attacked by the suspect, who was later arrested on assault and hate crime fees, authorities stated. Surveillance video confirmed the feminine officer, who’s of Asian descent, strategy Gerardo Contreras on Friday and inform him to show round and put his palms on his head.
The 33-year-old rotated, however whereas the officer places on plastic gloves earlier than patting him down, he turned again to face her, shoved her after which wrestled together with her on the bottom.
The video, first made public by the San Francisco Police Officers Association, confirmed 4 males dashing to assist, hitting Contreras and making an attempt to tug him off the officer as he punches her within the head and face. Shortly afterward, different officers arrived and arrested Contreras, who is outwardly homeless with psychological well being points and a document of prior arrests.
It wasn’t instantly identified if Contreras has an lawyer who can communicate on his behalf.
The assault comes amid a wave of assaults in opposition to Asian Americans in San Francisco and throughout the nation because the coronavirus pandemic took maintain within the US.
The officer has labored for the division for 5 years and suffered bumps and bruises, Tony Montoya, president of the San Francisco Police Officers Association, informed the San Francisco Chronicle.
Police spokesperson Robert Rueca confirmed the assault to the newspaper, saying, “We are not confirming the suspect’s statements toward witnesses or the Asian female officer. Our investigation is looking at aspects of this assault on the officer, which includes a possible hate crime and motive.”
Michael Waldorf had simply completed consuming dinner along with his household when he noticed the assault and jumped in with others to assist the officer.
“He’s a big guy; he was not letting go. He had a death grip on her. And he was not letting go,” Waldorf informed KGO-TV.
“I saw it as an emergency. She needed our help, and she needed it right away,” he stated.
