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SF Vandalism Suspect Accused of Targeting Chinese-Owned Businesses Facing 33 Charges

Man accused of vandalizing and burglarizing at least 20 Chinese-owned businesses throughout SF.
By - posted 8/19/2021 No Comment

San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin on Monday said his office has filed 33 charges — including hate crime allegations — against a man accused of vandalizing and burglarizing Chinese-owned businesses throughout the city.

According to prosecutors, between April and August, Derik Barreto, 36, shattered the windows of at least 20 businesses. In some instances, Barreto allegedly used a slingshot, pipe, or hammer to break the windows of businesses along Ocean Avenue and in the Mission District. Barreto also allegedly, in at least five instances, entered the businesses after breaking windows and took cash and other items.

The District Attorney’s Office has charged Barreto with 27 counts of vandalism, four counts of second-degree robbery, and one count each of possession of burglary tools and possession of a concealed weapon. Additionally, Barreto has also been charged with 31 hate crime enhancements, prosecutors said. After his arrest, Barreto allegedly made statements indicating he targeted the businesses because he believed they were Chinese-owned.

“We absolutely do not tolerate violence or hate in San Francisco. Chinese-owned businesses should be able to operate without fear of being racially targeted by vandalism, burglary, or harassment,” Boudin said in a statement. “We stand with San Francisco’s AAPI community against hate and will do everything in our power to make sure everyone is and feels safe.”

Barreto’s charges come as reported hate crimes against Asians has skyrocketed over the last year, according to the organization Stop AAPI Hate. The organization reported 3,795 hate crimes against Asians nationwide between March 2020 and February 2021, but said the number only represents a fraction of the number of hate crimes that actually occur, as not all crimes are reported.

“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen a deeply concerning increase in the incidence of hate and violence against the AAPI community,” Boudin said. “We will not stand for it and we will do everything in our power to stop it.”

Boudin is encouraging anyone who may have witnessed or experienced a hate crime to contact the District Attorney’s Office’s Hate Crime hotline at (628) 652-4311.

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