A New York officer has been charged with a hate crime after he allegedly spewed anti-Muslim slurs at a driver while physically attacking him “until he lost consciousness.”
Riggs Kwong, 50, is accused of brutally beating a 32-year-old man during a traffic altercation on Jan. 16 in the Kensington neighborhood of Brooklyn. According to the Brooklyn’s District Attorney’s office, the victim – who at the time was driving a Toyota Rav 4 – allegedly followed Kwong’s Honda Accord to an intersection after Kwong allegedly blocked the victim’s car. After following Kwong’s car, the victim allegedly drove in front of the officer and cut him off.
The incident was reportedly recorded by Kwong, who allegedly told the victim that he was trying to make a turn. Kwong was off-duty at the time. “I’m trying to make a left here on the service road and this terrorist is terrorizing me, you’re upset because I didn’t let you make a U-turn, Mr. Mohammed … Al Qaeda, Terrorist, ISIS …” is accused of saying.
Kwong reportedly continued to call the victim racial slurs, and at one point, the victim got out of his car to take photos of the cop’s license plates. The victim eventually went back to get into his car but got out again and slapped the hood of Kwong’s vehicle. That’s when Kwong got out of his car, according to a prosecutor, NBC News reports.
Things went extremely left after Kwong allegedly tried to spit in the man’s face and the victim spit back at him. The officer then allegedly hit the man while calling him anti-Muslim names and using anti-Muslim language. The victim was knocked to the ground during the incident, losing awareness.
When Kwong called 911 he explained that he was an off-duty cop, claiming the victim threw the first punch. However, surveillance footage showed Kwong allegedly throwing the first blow. Kwong was arrested and charged with assault as a hate crime, menacing as a hate crime and aggravated harassment. Kwong has since been suspended from the NYPD, and he’s pleaded not guilty to the crimes. He’s been released without bail is expected to come back to court on March 22, NBC News reports.
