header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
July 15
1891 - R.E. Nickel publishes area's first newspaper, The Acton Rooster [story]
Acton Rooster


Courtesy of The Signal, signalscv.com
| Friday, Oct 22, 2021
SCV Sheriff's Station deputies interview witnesses at a Starbucks in Valencia on Aug. 20, 2020. Dan Watson/ The Signal
 

The total number of anti-Asian hate crimes within Los Angeles County rose 76% in 2020, according to a report released Wednesday.

The L.A. County Commission on Human Relations said the number of anti-Asian hate crimes had increased from 25 in 2019 to 44 in 2020 around the county.

A total of two of the 44 crimes had occurred within the Santa Clarita Valley, according to the Commission’s Report. However, officials at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station could only find one crime fitting that description for the 2020 calendar year.

Officials from the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations could not be reached for comment to clarify the discrepancy as of the publication of this article.

In the instance recorded by the sheriff’s station, two Hispanic brothers — aged 60 and 68 — reportedly attacked an Asian man for “not wearing a face mask in public” on Aug. 20, 2020, at a Starbucks on Valencia Boulevard.

“(One of the suspects) yelled at him, ‘Stop eating bats,’” then referred to the man using a racial slur before threatening to “shove this chair up your ass,’” said Sgt. Brian Shreves of the SCV Sheriff’s Station. “Then he threw a chair at the male Asian victim, striking him in the abdomen.”

“(The first suspect) started walking towards the parking lot, victim went to follow him, telling bystanders to call the police,” said Shreves. “As he got out there, (the second suspect), in a separate car than suspect one, put his car into reverse and backed into the victim, hitting him and knocking him onto the trunk of the car.”

According to the two witnesses to the incident, suspect two then drove about 10 feet before slamming on his brakes, causing the victim to fall off the vehicle, Shreves said. The two suspects then drove off.

“Two witnesses corroborated the same story (as the victim), suspects were identified, arrested and posted bail,” said Shreves. “The case was rejected by the District Attorney’s office.”

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to a request for comment as to why the case was rejected. At the time, Jackie Lacey was still serving as district attorney before being replaced in the November election by George Gascón.

The second hate crime, which was reported on the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations report but not found in the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department system, occurred somewhere in the eastern part of the SCV, but the map provided by the county in the report did not specify. It was labeled an “anti-Asian hate crime” while the Starbucks incident was labeled a “anti-Asian hate crime (COVID-19 related).”

The 44 anti-Asian hate crimes reported throughout L.A. County were the highest since 2001, “when there were 42 anti-Asian racial hate crimes and 38 additional crimes after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in which the victims were South Asian,” the report read.

“Hate has no place in Los Angeles County,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who represents the SCV, said in a prepared statement. “I am sickened by the increase in crimes against the Asian-American community. This is an important reminder for all residents to stand up and speak out when they witness a hate crime. Our neighborhoods must be accepting and safe for residents of all cultural and ethnic backgrounds.”

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Monday, Jul 14, 2025
City Now Accepting Vendor Applications for Makers Marketplace
The city of Santa Clarita invites local artisans and crafters to apply Makers Marketplace, returning as part of the annual Light Up Main Street, presented by DrinkPAK, on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Monday, Jul 14, 2025
William S. Hart Park Officially Opens as City’s 40th Park
The city of Santa Clarita has announced the official opening of its 40th park, William S. Hart Park, now under full city ownership and open to the public.
Monday, Jul 14, 2025
Performing Arts Center Announces 2025-2026 Spotlight Series
This fall, the College of the Canyons Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center Spotlight Series will feature a diverse lineup of talented musicians and performers spanning the genres of swing, pop rock and magic.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1891 - R.E. Nickel publishes area's first newspaper, The Acton Rooster [story]
Acton Rooster
The city of Santa Clarita invites local artisans and crafters to apply Makers Marketplace, returning as part of the annual Light Up Main Street, presented by DrinkPAK, on Saturday, Nov. 15.
City Now Accepting Vendor Applications for Makers Marketplace
The city of Santa Clarita has announced the official opening of its 40th park, William S. Hart Park, now under full city ownership and open to the public.
William S. Hart Park Officially Opens as City’s 40th Park
The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority released the results of the 2025 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count on Monday, july 14.
L.A. County Homelessness Shows Decline for Second Consecutive Year
Finally Family Homes a Santa Clarita Valley nonprofit which offers support to young adults transitioning out of foster care, will host a Southern Gospel Brunch fundraiser on Saturday, July 19 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
July 19: Southern Gospel Brunch Fundraiser for Finally Family Homes
This fall, the College of the Canyons Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center Spotlight Series will feature a diverse lineup of talented musicians and performers spanning the genres of swing, pop rock and magic.
Performing Arts Center Announces 2025-2026 Spotlight Series
True Barre is hosting "Summer Shred," a high-energy community shredding and fitness event 8 a.m.-noon, Sunday, Aug. 3.
Aug. 3: ‘Summer Shred’ Event at True Barre
California Credit Union Foundation has awarded a grant to La Mesa Junior High School in Santa Clarita through its Spring 2025 Teacher Grant Program. The grant, given to La Mesa Junior High School Teacher Kamalinphol Punpanichgul, will be used to fund a sumo robot challenge for robotics students.
California Credit Union Foundation Awards Grant to Santa Clarita Teacher
The Latino Business Alliance will host a Café con Leche, 9-10:15 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5 at Southern California Edison, 25625 Rye Canyon Road, Valencia, CA 91355.
Aug 5: Latino Business Alliance Café con Leche
The Small Business Development Center hosted by College of the Canyons will offer a free webinar, "Financial Fitness: Why is the Balance Sheet so Important for My Small Business?" on Tuesday, July 15 from 10-11:30 a.m.
July 15: SBDC Webinar on Financial Fitness
As summer unfolds in Santa Clarita, our city comes alive with opportunities that spark curiosity, creativity and community.
Ken Striplin | A Summer of Discovery, Connection in Santa Clarita
The city of Santa Clarita Film Office has released the list of eight productions filming in the Santa Clarita Valley for the week of Monday, July 14 to Saturday, July 19.
July 14-19: Eight Productions Filming in SCV
Caltrans has announced overnight lane reductions are scheduled on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 (I-5) between Lake Hughes Road and two miles north of Templin Highway starting Monday, July 14 for pavement rehabilitation.
July 14-16: Castaic Area I-5 Lane Reductions
Among several important issues to be presented at the regular board meeting on July 15, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider Support for State and Federal Legislation Enhancing Accountability During Immigration Enforcement.
July 15: Supervisors to Consider Support of Law Enforcement Identification
1769 - Portolá party sets out from San Diego; first Europeans to "discover" Santa Clarita Valley 3½ weeks later [story]
Gaspar de Portola
1884 - Hardison & Stewart start drilling Star No. 1 oil well in Pico Canyon; later form Union Oil Co. [story]
Lyman Stewart
The Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector is reporting increased occurrences of an alleged property tax scam, in which taxpayers are being sent phony property tax bills that look like real bills.
Scam Alert: Beware of Phony L.A. County Property Tax Bills
The Santa Clarita Artists Association invites all fine artists to apply to its inaugural Old Town Newhall Fine Art Festival. The festival will be held Oct. 11-12.
Call for Artists: Old Town Newhall Fine Art Festival
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a business meeting Wednesday, July 16, beginning at 5 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 3 p.m.
July 16: COC Board to Accept Report on COC Foundation Gifts 2023-24
The city of Santa Clarita has officially signed off on the walk-thru/hand over of William S. Hart Park, said officials from Supervisor Katheryn Barger's office in a statement released on Friday, July 11.
July 14: Hart Park Officially Transfers to City of Santa Clarita Control
Scarlet Hope Southern California invites the Santa Clarita Valley community to its inaugural Brunch & Bloom fundraiser on Sunday, Aug. 24 at 11 a.m.
Aug. 24: Brunch & Bloom ‘A Fundraising Event’
The city of Santa Clarita and SantaClaritaArts.com is seeking speakers and proposals for the Fourth Annual Business for Artists Conference.
Fourth Annual Business for Artists Conference Seeks Speakers
To alleviate parking and make it easier for residents and visitors to explore Santa Clarita’s Premier Arts and Entertainment District in Old Town Newhall, the city has launched the free Summer Shuttle Service Pilot Program.
Free Old Town Newhall Weekend Shuttle Launched
The city of Santa Clarita has announced the release of the seventh episode of Santa Clarita Voices, the city’s official podcast, that highlights the stories, experiences and conversations from city leaders and unique members of the Santa Clarita community.
Santa Clarita Voices Episode Seven Podcast Available Now
SCVNews.com