Hate Crime Charges Sought In East Bay Anti-Asian Attack: Cops

EL CERRITO, CA — Authorities are seeking hate crime enhancements for an assault suspect in connection with an anti-Asian attack Tuesday morning, El Cerrito police said.

Officers responded at around 9:25 a.m. to a report that a man spat in a woman’s face near the intersection of Potrero Avenue and Everett Street in El Cerrito, police said.

The victim, an Asian woman, told officers that a man she did not know, had followed her car into her garage shouting racial epithets and then spat in her face, police said.

The suspect was located nearby by another responding officer according to police.

The suspect was identified as Ricky Amos, 56 of Richmond, police said.

Amos was taken to the County Jail in Martinez, police said.

“The El Cerrito Police Department will pursue charges for battery and vandalism with a hate crime enhancement as well as charges for being out of compliance with sex offender registration requirements,” police said in a statement.