A Richmond man could face hate crime and felony battery charges in connection with an attack on a man of Middle Eastern descent in El Cerrito Thursday afternoon, police said.
Police responded to a report of an assault at the intersection of San Pablo and Potrero avenues about 3 p.m. Thursday. Officers learned the suspect, 40-year-old Nicholas Andre Kimmons, approached the victim, a 69-year-old man, and asked for a cigarette.
“When the victim refused, the suspect made race-based comments before punching him in the head. The victim fell to the ground and lost consciousness,” police said. “A witness called the police.”
Officers located Kimmons in the parking lot of the nearby Hotel Mira Vista Berkeley North.
“The suspect refused to comply with officers’ commands, and they took him into custody by detaining him with a standing bear hug,” police said. “Once in handcuffs, the suspect began acting erratically and refused to sit in a police car. Officers used a WRAP device (made by Safe Restraints, Inc.) to immobilize him and called for a medical response to evaluate his physical wellbeing.”
Kimmons was transported to the hospital for a health check, prior to being taken to Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez.
“The ECPD plans to present charges for felony battery with enhancements for a hate crime and elder abuse to the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office,” police said Thursday.
