Santa Clara County prosecutors on Monday announced a hate crime charge filed against a 39-year-old woman who allegedly spat on an Asian man having lunch in downtown Mountain View and used an ethnic slur against him.
Greenbrae resident Karen Inman faces a battery charge along with the hate crime allegation for the attack on February 13. Authorities allege Inman approached the 36-year-old victim, who was eating outside with a friend near Castro St. and Villa St., spat on him unprovoked and told him to go back "where he came from."
Prosecutors said another diner, who had allegedly seen Inman approach other people of Asian descent in the area, called police.
"Our community stands together against any hatred and racism against the Asian Pacific Islander community," District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. "It is ignorant. It is wrong. And when it is criminal - those who are charged will face the full power of my Office to hold them accountable."
Inman was scheduled to be arraigned Monday afternoon.
The incident is the latest in a string of anti-Asian crimes across the Bay Area.
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