'Anti-Asian hate crime' reported near UC Berkeley
According to Berkeley police data, there have been at least 14 hate crime reports to BPD this year in addition to the incident near campus.
A person threw rocks at someone — but failed to hit them — as part of an "anti-Asian hate crime" not far from the UC Berkeley campus Sunday, authorities report.
The crime, described by the University of California Police Department as an aggravated assault attempt, took place Sept. 19 near Durant Avenue and Ellsworth Street.
Police released few details about the incident and reported no arrests.
"An unknown individual attempted to assault a victim using several rocks," UCPD wrote in a community WarnMe alert. "The suspect was not arrested. Based on information provided in the initial report of this crime, this crime was believed to have been an anti-Asian hate crime."
The incident took place at 8:45 a.m. but was not reported until 3:25 p.m. that day, according to UCPD's daily crime log.
In its alert, UCPD asked people to make crime reports as quickly as possible: "Please do not delay in calling 911. UCPD strongly encourages the reporting of criminal or suspicious activity in a timely manner."
UCPD did not share a physical description of the assailant, citing university policy: "Physical descriptions of a suspect, including race, are included in timely warnings only when they provide several details that might help distinguish the suspect’s appearance from the general population."
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call UCPD at 510-642-6760 and reference case #22-02192.
According to Berkeley police data, there have been at least 14 hate crime calls for service to BPD this year in addition to the Sept. 19 attack.
There were 41 hate crime reports and incidents in 2021, a steep uptick from the prior year when there were 12, according to BPD data.
In its recent alert, UCPD wrote that hate crime reports are taken seriously: "UCPD recognizes and places a high priority on the rights of all individuals guaranteed under state and federal law. The commission of a hate crime is a serious offense, which will not be tolerated."
