RICHMOND: A Sikh-American was attacked on September 25, by two white males, who started an altercation by throwing a beer at him while he was driving. Maan Singh Khalsa, 41 year old information technology specialist, was severely beaten up by the two men who even knocked off his turban and cut his hair.
The Sikh Coalition sent a letter to the Contra Costa District Attorney's office last week, and to the Richmond Police Department, saying that the incident must be prosecuted as a hate crime. Khalsa, who is currently recovering from the attack, has a laceration near his eye which is still bandaged, and the tip of his pinky finger on his right hand may have to be amputated. "I don't know what I did to deserve such unprovoked hatred," Khalsa said. The two suspects, Chase Little, 31, and Dustin Albarado, 25, were in the San Fransisco Bay Area on a contract assignment at a Richmond Oil Refinery. Khalsa said he was waiting at a stop light when a truck pulled up beside him with five white males, one, who reportedly threw a beer can into his car. At the next intersection, Khalsa got out of his car, and threw the can back into the truck.
At the next traffic light, Little, Albarado and another unidentified man got out of the truck and began punching Khalsa through his rolled-down window. One of them knifed him on his hand, slicing open his index, ring, and pinky finger. Another yelled "cut his hair", and Little chopped off a handful of Khalsa's religiously-mandared hair. "I'm still shaking. It has been so devastating," he said. Contra Costa County Deputy Attorney Simon O'Connell said the minute police took on the case, "it has always been looked at as a hate crime."
Richmond Mayor Tom Butts issued a press statement, “I was distressed to learn about a horrible attack against Khalsa. The account of this assault has left the Richmond community shocked and seeking justice for Khalsa.” Butts noted that the suspects have been booked on several violent felonies. “We understand the pain, anger and fear this crime has caused for the victim and the Sikh community. RPD has presented the case to the District Attorney’s office.” “We will know the specific charges made against the suspects by the middle of the week. I trust that the District Attorney will take every step to prosecute the suspects and bring the appropriate charges forward,” said Butts.
