An 82-year-old Edmonds woman was arrested and booked into Snohomish County Jail Monday afternoon for a hate crime after assaulting two women who were rallying in support of presidential candidate Donald Trump at the intersection of 100th Avenue West and Edmonds Way.
Prior to the assault, the suspect indicated the race of the victims and their political beliefs were the catalyst for her approaching and yelling at them about their views, Edmonds police spokesperson Cmdr. Josh McClure said.
Officers called to the scene just before 1 p.m. Monday found multiple community members who were rallying in support of Trump, McClure said. They also observed the suspect engaging with the supporters. “When officers contacted the suspect, she stated that she could not understand why people of color would support this particular candidate,” McClure said. “The suspect was very animated and even attempted to push an officer while demonstrating how she had acted.”
According to police, officers interviewed a 55-year-old victim — identified in the police report as mixed race and from Edmonds — who stated that “the suspect had gotten into her face” about her support for Trump. The suspect commented on the victim’s attire and skin color before the suspect pushed the victim and punched her in the chin. A second victim, a 66-year-old woman described as white and also from Edmonds, intervened and stepped between the suspect and the first victim. “The suspect responded by punching her as well,” McClure said. Neither victim suffered significant injury and did not require medical treatment.
Investigating officers, who interviewed multiple witnesses, established probable cause for a hate crime arrest. “The suspect continued to show no remorse for the incident and the potential to continue her behavior toward others,” McClure said. A patrol supervisor approved the suspect’s booking into the Snohomish County Jail, he added.
“The constitution protects peaceful rallies in our community, and community members should never be met with violence while exercising those rights,” Edmonds Police Chief Michelle Bennett said. “Our officers properly determined that this was more than just an assault and arrested the suspect for the appropriate charge.”
“I’m disheartened that this violence has occurred in our community,” added Edmonds Mayor Mike Rosen. “Elections are an important part of society, and freedom of expression is the foundation on which democracy is built. Community members peacefully showing political support should not be subject to hateful violence. I’m thankful there were no serious injuries, and the suspect was held accountable.”
Has the chief “shown remorse” for her black-hat partisan messaging issued from an official position? Interesting that MEN doesn’t even mention her name, even though a juicy quote from her is being repeated by other outlets.
We are to believe that an 82 year old woman, who caused no demonstrable injuries to anyone, should be arrested and charged with a hate crime? How can anyone take the E.P.D. seriously when they exhibit this kind of behavior?
The mayor should be ashamed of himself for supporting this action, and Bennet should change her exit date to immediately if not sooner.
Say what? You’re complaining because officials are sticking up for the victims of an assault?
I believe the Chief, Mayor & Officers dealt with this situation in a professional manor. I hope the individual responsible, apologizes and is released.
She hit and pushed someone. All over them falling for Trump. If someone had done that to someone over Harris it would be the same charge. You can’t touch people, Period!. You can’t let your emotions run your hands! She also let it run her mouth with racial slurs. Therefore a hate crime. It is as clear as day!
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 9A.36.080 is where your answer lies.
RCW 9A.36.080.1. A person is guilty of a hate crime offense if the person maliciously and intentionally commits one of the following acts because of their perception of another person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, or mental, physical, or sensory disability:
(a) Assaults another person;
…….
The rest of the RCW deals with other heinous behavior like cross burnings, nooses, etc.
If she had just left it as saying that “… she could not understand why people of color would support this particular candidate…” (paraphrased) that would not be a hate crime.
Unfortunately, she chose to get in the face of and assault two people.
She will have her day in court.
If you remember a few years ago a guy was charged and I believe convicted with a hate crime for verbal assault against a Edmonds police officer, if we are to use the same standard this woman should see some jail time.
What sad times we live in when someone uses violence to express their disagreement with someone expressing their political position. Maybe a better way to have handled her displeasure would have been to hold a rally on the other side of the street for the candidate she was supporting. May calmer heads prevail next time.
By the way.
In this day and age of online records, it’s not terribly difficult to find the arrest info and charges.
Go out to Jail Register & Bail Information (Google).
Search Jail Register Information, and enter the arrest date and arresting agency.
The answer will come to you.
I hope that Trump being elected after all the lies and fake lawsuits and attempts on his life can turn around the angry democrats and help them change for the better and help us make America Great Again.
The only lies come from Trump himself, and the lawsuits were real and because he is a criminal and sexual abuser. You can try and make believe they are lies to make yourself feel better about the monster you support, but truth always will prevail. When Trump inevitably sells out this country to our enemies, makes the economy collapse, and tries to end democracy, maybe there will be some self-reflection but I doubt it. The only silver lining is that the majority of the people in this state remain good, smart, decent people, and let’s hope Governor Ferguson has as much fight in him as this woman who was arrested.
I’ve allowed one comment on each side of the election results and I’m shutting down this thread. This is off topic.
In addition to the actual facts of this case, there can be extenuating and/or mitigating factors. I trust our police and court systems and it’s people to sort this stuff out fairly. May we all age as gracefully as well as we can, especially now.