Berkeley Hate Crime Suspect Arrested

BERKELEY, CA — A Berkeley hate crime suspect has been arrested in connection with attack on a package delivery driver earlier this month, police said.

Officers on April 18 shortly before 8 p.m. responded to a report of a disturbance in the area of Delaware Street and McGee Avenue according to police.

The incident began when a 35-year-old Berkeley woman thought she saw the package delivery person driving too fast in the area, police said.

The woman and her boyfriend, who was a passenger in her car, then decided to follow the package delivery person—leading to a confrontation on the 1700 block of Delaware Street, police said.

The woman used force to prevent the package delivery person from leaving and used hateful language disparaging of people of color amid the altercation according to police.

The woman was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment, battery, using offensive words and willfully threatening a person based on their perceived characteristics, police said.

A hate crime is a crime against a person, group, or property motivated by the victim’s real or perceiving protected social group.

“The Berkeley Police Department recognizes and places a high priority on the rights of all individuals guaranteed under state and federal law,” police said in a statement.

“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 California Attorney General’s website resource page.