California man charged for throwing rocks at Asian-American woman and child in car
- Roger Janke, who faces several charges, told police that Koreans in the area were trying to control him
- Alleged attack comes as violence against Asian-Americans across the United States has ramped up
A man who allegedly threw rocks at an Asian woman and her 6-year-old son in the Los Angeles area was charged with a hate crime on Monday, the latest in a string of attacks targeting Asian-Americans.
Roger Janke, 28, faces several charges, including violating civil rights, throwing a substance at a vehicle and a hate crime, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.
Janke is accused of throwing two rocks at the woman and her son while they were driving in Fullerton, about 40km (25 miles) southeast of Los Angeles. The rocks cracked the windscreen of the woman’s Tesla and damaged her bumper, the DA’s office said.
The woman drove to a nearby park and called authorities.
“I refuse to tolerate hate in Orange County,” District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “A woman and her child should be able to drive down the street without worrying about being attacked because of the colour of their skin.”
Spitzer vowed to prosecute the case and others like it to the fullest extent to send a message: “There is no room for hate here – or anywhere.”
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Janke, who told police that “Koreans in the area were trying to control him,” according to the release, pleaded not guilty. The Fullerton man faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison.