Oakland: Chinatown Chamber of Commerce president publicly attacked
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Oakland, CA (Bay Area News Group) — OAKLAND — Chinatown Chamber of Commerce president Carl Chan was attacked on a public sidewalk Thursday afternoon, and police officers were able to detain a suspect, authorities said.
In preliminary information, authorities confirmed that officers responded to reports of a victim, later found to be Chan, who had been knocked to the ground around 4 p.m. in the 400 block of Eighth Street, and found him on the pavement after just regaining consciousness.
Officers provided first aid, but Chan declined medical treatment before saying he heard someone yell obscenities at him before the attack. Chan then provided cellphone pictures he had managed to capture of his attacker.
Based on a description from those images, other officers canvassed the area and detained an Oakland man nearby as a battery suspect. Soon after, Chan was able to identify his attacker in a field lineup, authorities said.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of felony battery and taken to police headquarters for questioning. His name and exact charges, including any possible hate crime charge based on the obscenity, were not immediately available Thursday night.
During the last year, Chan took a prominent role in pressing city staff for multiple resources, including the return of foot-patrol officers to Chinatown, released funding for additional surveillance cameras, and changes in street and garage parking to reflect changed shopping habits and to limit parking tickets, to combat not only the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic effects but increased reports of merchant robberies and attacks.
Chan later praised the city’s restoration of a community officer removed earlier under budget cuts.
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George Kellygkelly@bayareanewsgroup.com408-859-5180
