UPDATE (10:28 p.m.)- San Luis Obispo Police have tweeted that the vehicle they were searching for in a hate crime investigation has been identified.
UPDATE: thank you for the assistance, the vehicle shown in prior post has been identified.
— San Luis Obispo Police Department (@SLOCityPolice) December 7, 2021
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The San Luis Obispo Police Department released photos Monday of a "person of interest" and truck believed to be related to a hate crime, battery, and assault that was reported on November 22.
The reported crime happened at about 6 p.m. near the intersection of High and Santa Barbara streets.
Police say the victims, an Asian male and a white female, told officers they were walking their dog when a man began yelling racial slurs at them. They said the man then approached them and assaulted the female after she took out her phone to call police.
Police say after a few people nearby came to the aid of the couple, the male victim tried to chase after the suspect and the suspect again tried to assault him before fleeing the area.
The suspect is described as being between the ages of 35 and 45, about 6' tall, 170 to 200 pounds, and with short dark-blonde hair. He was reportedly wearing a tan shirt, tan shorts, and running shoes at the time of the assault.
SLOPD is seeking the public's assistance in identifying this person of interest regarding the reported hate crime on 11/22/21. If you are able to provide information, please contact Officer Ponce at 805-781-7142 or Crime Stoppers 805-549-7867. pic.twitter.com/3lqOsSRcvQ
— San Luis Obispo Police Department (@SLOCityPolice) December 7, 2021
Anyone who can identify the suspect or has further information about this incident is encouraged to contact SLOPD Officer Ponce at (805) 781-7142 or Crime Stoppers at (805) 549-STOP.
