Feds indict alleged anti-Muslim bigot on hate crime charge
Federal prosecutors take up case against Federal Way man accused in attack on Sikh driver
BY LEVI PULKKINEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
A Federal Way man accused of viciously beating a Sikh cab driver while shouting anti-Muslim slurs now faces a federal hate crime indictment.
Initially charged in King County Superior Court, Jamie W. Larson is accused of attacking a cab driver during an Oct. 17 ride after commenting on the man’s turban. Larson, who is alleged to have torn at the man’s beard and injured his mouth in the attack, apparently believed the Sikh driver to be Muslim.
A federal grand jury in Seattle returned an indictment against Larson late last week; Larson, 49, previously pleaded not guilty to a state charge. He is expected to appear before a U.S. District Court judge Tuesday afternoon.
Announcing the indictment Tuesday, U.S. Attorney for Western Washington Jenny Durkan noted Larson now faces a significant prison sentence under a hate crime law enacted in 2009.
“Attacks such as this one, based on prejudice and racial hate, are contrary to who we are and violate the law,” Durkan said in a statement. “Protecting the civil rights of all the members of our community is a top priority for our office.”
According to state court documents, Larson tore out chunks of the man’s beard during the assault, which also loosened one of the driver’s teeth.
“Two witnesses saw the attack which was described as savage, and the defendant continued his tirade after officers arrived,” King County Deputy Prosecutor Gretchen Holmgren told the court previously, noting that the cab driver was taken to a hospital following the attack.
The afternoon attack came after Auburn police called a cab to pick up Larson, who was apparently too intoxicated to drive or walk.
According to charging documents, the STITA Taxi driver arrived at the Auburn police station to retrieve Larson. During the drive to Larson’s Federal Way home, Larson began questioning the driver about his turban.
Larson then attacked the driver while making anti-Muslim comments, a Federal Way detective told the court. The driver was able to stop the car in the 1200 block of Southwest 301st Street, where police found him injured and Larson attempting to return to the parked taxi.
During the attack, Larson pulled out parts of the driver’s beard and punched him repeatedly, according to charging documents. Police report the attack left the driver dazed and with a loose tooth.
Even after police arrived, Larson continued making bigoted comments about the driver, an immigrant from India. According to police, Larson referred to him derisively as Iranian and Iraqi, and used several anti-Arab slurs before also using an anti-gay slur.
“We have Americans fighting overseas in his country and why doesn’t he go back to there?” Larson allegedly asked officers at the scene.
Writing the court, the Federal Way detective noted Larson’s comments were not only hateful but based on his misperception of the driver’s heritage.
“Officers noted that (the driver), a follower of the Sikhism religion, wore a turban headdress, kirpana, kara and a Kanga; items that symbolize (his) religion,” the detective told the court.
Larson is expected to make an initial appearance Tuesday afternoon. He was charged under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law that criminalizes attacks based on a person’s actual or perceived race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, in addition to several other factors.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Feds-indict-alleged-anti-Muslim-bigot-on-hate-4403843.php
Federal prosecutors take up case against Federal Way man accused in attack on Sikh driver
BY LEVI PULKKINEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
A Federal Way man accused of viciously beating a Sikh cab driver while shouting anti-Muslim slurs now faces a federal hate crime indictment.
Initially charged in King County Superior Court, Jamie W. Larson is accused of attacking a cab driver during an Oct. 17 ride after commenting on the man’s turban. Larson, who is alleged to have torn at the man’s beard and injured his mouth in the attack, apparently believed the Sikh driver to be Muslim.
A federal grand jury in Seattle returned an indictment against Larson late last week; Larson, 49, previously pleaded not guilty to a state charge. He is expected to appear before a U.S. District Court judge Tuesday afternoon.
Announcing the indictment Tuesday, U.S. Attorney for Western Washington Jenny Durkan noted Larson now faces a significant prison sentence under a hate crime law enacted in 2009.
“Attacks such as this one, based on prejudice and racial hate, are contrary to who we are and violate the law,” Durkan said in a statement. “Protecting the civil rights of all the members of our community is a top priority for our office.”
According to state court documents, Larson tore out chunks of the man’s beard during the assault, which also loosened one of the driver’s teeth.
“Two witnesses saw the attack which was described as savage, and the defendant continued his tirade after officers arrived,” King County Deputy Prosecutor Gretchen Holmgren told the court previously, noting that the cab driver was taken to a hospital following the attack.
The afternoon attack came after Auburn police called a cab to pick up Larson, who was apparently too intoxicated to drive or walk.
According to charging documents, the STITA Taxi driver arrived at the Auburn police station to retrieve Larson. During the drive to Larson’s Federal Way home, Larson began questioning the driver about his turban.
Larson then attacked the driver while making anti-Muslim comments, a Federal Way detective told the court. The driver was able to stop the car in the 1200 block of Southwest 301st Street, where police found him injured and Larson attempting to return to the parked taxi.
During the attack, Larson pulled out parts of the driver’s beard and punched him repeatedly, according to charging documents. Police report the attack left the driver dazed and with a loose tooth.
Even after police arrived, Larson continued making bigoted comments about the driver, an immigrant from India. According to police, Larson referred to him derisively as Iranian and Iraqi, and used several anti-Arab slurs before also using an anti-gay slur.
“We have Americans fighting overseas in his country and why doesn’t he go back to there?” Larson allegedly asked officers at the scene.
Writing the court, the Federal Way detective noted Larson’s comments were not only hateful but based on his misperception of the driver’s heritage.
“Officers noted that (the driver), a follower of the Sikhism religion, wore a turban headdress, kirpana, kara and a Kanga; items that symbolize (his) religion,” the detective told the court.
Larson is expected to make an initial appearance Tuesday afternoon. He was charged under the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law that criminalizes attacks based on a person’s actual or perceived race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, in addition to several other factors.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Feds-indict-alleged-anti-Muslim-bigot-on-hate-4403843.php