PALO ALTO – A 44-year-old Palo Alto man was arrested on suspicion of yelling a racial epithet while harassing a woman last week outside City Hall, according to authorities.
The incident happened just before 7 a.m. Friday, the Palo Alto Police Department said in a news release.
Police said the victim – described as a woman in her 40s – was walking through Civic Center Plaza and approaching the front entrance of City Hall when a man rushed toward her, blocked her path and “yelled a racial epithet directed at Asian people.”
The victim, fearing for her safety, ran from the suspect, who followed her and continued to yell, police said. He stopped following her when she reached the street.
The victim flagged down an off-duty police officer in the 600 block of Ramona Street. On-duty officers were dispatched to the area, but they did not find the suspect.
As officers were speaking with the victim, they received word a man was harassing customers and walking in and out of traffic at Town & Country Village on Embarcadero Road.
Officers detained the man and determined he was the same person who accosted the woman outside City Hall, police said. The man was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County jail on misdemeanor hate crime and malicious obstruction charges.
Anyone with information related to the case can contact the police department at 650-329-2413. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call or text 650-383-8984 or email paloalto@tipnow.org.