Video: Man goes on anti-Asian rant against NYPD detective

Man goes on anti-Asian rant against NYPD detective - video screenshot collage (courtesy New York Post)

Not a hate crime? Man goes on anti-Asian rant against NYPD detective – and it’s all caught on camera

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NEW YORK CITY, NY – An NYPD detective that was working a protest earlier in March in New York City was subjected to an anti-Asian, racist rant that was caught on the NYPD detective’s bodycam.

The racist rhetoric espoused by the man in the video consisted of hurling both Asian stereotypes and, at times, using a mockingly hyperbolic Asian accent.

The incident reportedly occurred during a protest that took place on the evening of March 11th, where the 16-year veteran from the NYPD was assigned to an area near the Stonewall Inn in Manhattan when he was approached by the man in the video.

In the video, the man goes on a tirade rife with stereotypes meant to denigrate the detective:

“Suck a dog’s dick, pussy. Then cook it and eat it in front of your mother.”

From there, the man told the detective to have a “goddamn tea party” and began to repeatedly say the words “soy sauce”, eventually reciting the words in a stereotypical Asian accent reminiscent of outdated tropes.

The man then ends the rant with rhetorically asking the NYPD detective if he’s going to be putting that on the “lunch special” – once again, utilizing another stereotype to take a verbal jab the detective.

Sources say that local police are familiar with the individual on the video, saying that he’s been previously arrested for charges of terroristic threats and aggravated harassment. Considering the rant captured on camera, that news is hardly shocking.

NYPD Commissioner Shea took to Twitter to denounce the racist rant that the detective was subjected to, writing the following:

“Sad state of affairs, this is many things but it is not a protest. No place for hate in our City.”

Detectives’ Endowment Association President Paul DiGiacomo also commented on the display, saying that while it was both “disgusting and despicable”, he also finds the incident to be “not at all surprising”:

“This is the sad reality that police have to deal with and feckless politicians have invited.”

DiGiacomo also added that the detective subjected to said harassment “deserves high praise for his calm reaction.”

With respect to the incident, the unnamed NYPD detective had reportedly considered filing a complaint about the incident but opted not to since the detective felt as though the rant to rise to the level of criminal behavior.

The timing of this video surfacing coincides during a period where anti-Asian crimes have been getting increased attention across the country.

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We at Law Enforcement Today have recently reported on many of these instances involving attacks lodged against Asian-Americans. 

One such incident occurred in San Francisco earlier in March. Here’s that previous report. 

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA – 76-year-old Xiao Zhen Xie refused to become the latest victim of violence against Asians in the Bay Area. The elderly woman was attacked and punched by a man in the street Wednesday but fought back, leaving him battered and bloodied on an ambulance stretcher.

The unprovoked attack occurred around 10:30 a.m. in downtown San Francisco. Xie, translated through her daughter Dong-Mei Li for KPIX5, said she was waiting at a traffic signal when the suspect punched her in her left eye.

Although injured, Xie decided not to become a victim and fought back. Her daughter said:

“She found the stick around the area and fought back.”

KPIX5 Sports Director Dennis O’Donnell came upon the scene just after the attack occurred:

“There was a guy on a stretcher and a frustrated angry woman with a stick in her hand.”

O’Donnell captured video of the scene on his cellphone. The video shows Xie holding a large board in one hand and an ice bag in the other. She begins shouting at a man lying on a stretcher with a bloodied face and a stunned look on his face. Xie was shouting in Chinese, “You bum, why did you hit me?”

O’Donnell described the shocking scene:

“There was a guy on a stretcher and a frustrated angry woman with a stick in her hand. From what I could see, she wanted more of the guy on the stretcher and the police were holding her back.”

The attacker was transported to the hospital for his injuries. His condition has not been released.

Xia was also taken to the hospital for injuries sustained in the assault. Li said her mother cannot see out of her left eye and has not been able to eat. Her family said the elderly woman has been afraid since the attack. Her grandson John Chen said:

“As you can see, she is extremely terrified, she’s terrified to even step out.”

The family of Xiao Zhen Xie has set up a GoFundMe page to defray medical costs associated with her injuries. The fund, set up by her grandson, says:

“I am amazed by her bravery. She was the one that defended herself from this unprovoked attack. But she is now suffering two serious black eyes and one that is bleeding unstoppably. Her wrist has also swelled up. She has been severely affected mentally, physically, and emotionally.

“She also stated that she is afraid to step out of her home from now on. This traumatic event has left her with PTSD. Although she has health insurance that covers the basics, there are still many medical expenses that cannot be covered on her own.”

San Francisco police identified the assailant as a 39-year-old San Francisco resident, but did not release his name. Officials said the motive for the attack was not clear, but the man is suspected of attacking an 83-year-old Asian man earlier Wednesday morning.

Police said they are working to determine if race was a factor in the attacks and are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. Police Chief Bill Scott said:

“We have to do our job and we have to investigate these cases with all resources brought to bear and we need to make arrests, and we’ve done that.”

San Francisco Mayor London Breed said motive needed to be determined because the attacks did not involve robbery or theft:

“We need to understand, not only what is going on, but why these attacks occur. Because in some cases they didn’t include any robbery or theft.”

Hate crimes against Asians have been on the rise since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and officials are struggling to get a handle on the situation.

At a press conference earlier Wednesday, Chief Scott expressed condolences to the families of the victims of a mass shooting incident in Atlanta, Georgia, which appeared to target Asians. The suspect in the crime, Robert Aaron Long, has been charged with eight counts of murder.

Police also announced the arrest of three men in connection with an attack on a 67-year-old man inside a laundromat in Chinatown last month. Chief Scott vowed to keep residents safe:

“As you may know, the San Francisco Bay Area has been seeing an alarming spike in brazen anti-Asian violence in recent weeks. We are coordinating with our federal partners and local (Asian American) community organizations. … Working together, we must prevent violence and hold perpetrators accountable.”

Hate crimes have been on the rise in the Bay Area, with several vicious attacks against Asians.

Teaunte Bailey has been charged with the murder of 75-year-old Pak Ho after police say he shoved the elderly man to the ground and slammed his head against the sidewalk last week.

Antoine Watson has been charged with the murder of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee after shoving him to the ground causing fatal brain injuries.

Jorge Devis-Milton has been charged with assault and battery for severely beating Danny Yu Change Monday.

Hate crimes against Asian Americans rose 150% in 2020, despite overall hate crimes declining. The spike is blamed on racial targeting over the suspected origin of the pandemic in Wuhan, China.

On March 16th, Vietnamese-American actress Lana Condor wrote on her Twitter account:

“Wake up… your Asian friends and family are deeply scared, horrified, sick to their stomachs and wildly angry. Please, please, please check in on us, please, please, please stand with us. Please. Your Asian friend needs you, even if they aren’t publicly grieving on social media.”

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About The Author

Gregory Hoyt is an I.T. Marketing and Sales professional based out in Sierra Vista, Arizona. While being a staunch and outspoken advocate of law enforcement and first responders, Gregory Hoyt also has the experience of having spent nearly 5 years in prison as well. Since then, he's used his unique perspective to offer support and commentary about the criminal justice system. When not working or combating bad ideas, Hoyt also leisurely studies economics, history, and law.

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