Man charged with assault in connection with incident teen says involved racial slurs and virus accusations
Man tells CBC he did not use racial slurs against 15-year-old
A 40-year-old man is charged with assault in connection with an incident where a Saskatoon teen alleged he was hit, subjected to racial slurs and accused of spreading the COVID-19 virus.
Police confirmed Wednesday that they issued a warrant for the man.
When contacted by CBC, the man said he turned himself in Thursday morning. The man confirmed that he had been charged but denied that he used the racial slurs. He said that he shoved the teen because the teen was taking his picture.
CBC is not naming him because he has not yet appeared in court. His first appearance is scheduled for Aug. 13.
Nelson Chen is the father of the 15-year-old. He said that he urged police lay charges because he wants the man held accountable.
"I think one of the factors that contributed to the decision was the concern over public safety. We don't want the person to be out there to hurt any other person," he said Wednesday.
"So we wanted to make sure this person sees some consequences, at least to deter him from doing this again to others."
Chen said his 15-year-old son was subjected to racial slurs and COVID-19-related accusations, then physically attacked, while riding his bike in a field behind Bishop James Mahoney High School.
Chen said the incident happened Friday between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. CST, when his son decided to go for a bike ride with a friend.
He said his son was going through the field when he encountered a man.
"My son just was minding his business, just keeping on riding," Chen said. "But this person started to curse and then yelled racial slurs to him and accused him of spreading the virus."
Chen said his son used his phone to take a picture of the man.
"That person became even more aggressive. And he just ran to my son and push him off the bike and pitched him on the ground and started punching him in the head."
Chen's son was able to record a portion of the attack. It has since been widely shared on social media.
The teen was not seriously hurt and was able to make it home.
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