Richmond RCMP seeks witnesses to alleged racially-motivated assault

Richmond RCMP is looking for witnesses to yet another alleged racist assault in the region.

According to police, it happened on Sunday, May 17 just after 2 p.m. near Steveston Highway and No. 5 Road.

The victim, who is of Asian descent, was parked outside a business at 10820 No 5 Rd. when the suspect allegedly pulled up next to him and began yelling racial slurs.

Police say the verbal harassment continued when the victim got out of his car, and when he got back in and locked the doors, the suspect allegedly began banging on the windows.

Police say the man got back out of his car to seek refuge in a nearby business, and was followed inside by the suspect who then allegedly assaulted him.

Investigators have since arrested a suspect, but believe several people witnessed the incident.

The alleged assault is the latest in a surge of anti-Asian incidents coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic, ranging from verbal harassment to graffiti to physical assaults.

Vancouver police alone have opened 29 investigations into anti-Asian crime so far this year, compared to only four by this time last year.

Vancouver police have identified 77 “hate-associated” files so far in 2020, up from 51 during the same time last year.

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Earlier this month, a racist tirade in Richmond ended with one of the aggressors apologizing to the victim.

The suspect is described as Caucasian, five-foot-eight with an athletic build, short hair that is greying on the side and with an accent.

He was wearing a blue dress shirt, a grey vest and black dress pants.

Anyone who witnessed the altercation is asked to contact Richmond RCMP.