PALO ALTO – A 63-year-old East Palo Alto man was cited in connection with a hate crime and battery over the weekend in downtown Palo Alto, according to authorities.
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Officers were first called to the Palo Alto Transit Center, located at 95 University Ave., around 2:10 p.m. Sunday for a report of two men fighting, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news release. They arrived to find the men still in the area.
An investigation revealed a Latino man in his 20s was sitting on a bench at the bus platform when he heard the suspect “yelling derogatory things about people from Mexico,” according to police.
When the man stood up and asked the suspect to stop shouting or move away from him, the suspect punched him in the face, police said.
The victim told officers he removed a closed pocketknife from his bag and held it in his hand in an effort to scare away the suspect. However, the suspect challenged the victim to a fight and punched him in the face a second time, according to police.
Police said the victim dropped the pocketknife and punched the suspect in the face.
For a third time, the suspect punched the victim in the face, according to police. Both men fell to the ground and the victim was able to get away.
The victim suffered a minor injury, but he declined medical attention at the scene, police said.
During the investigation, a man in his 70s told officers the suspect had recently asked him for a cigarette. When he refused, the suspect punched a cigarette out of his hand, according to police.
Police said the suspect then turned his attention to the other man.
Officers cited the suspect for two counts of battery – one for each victim – and a hate crime.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-329-2413; those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.
