Crime & Safety
Transient Arrested: Alleged Hate Crime Against Muslims In Fremont
Police report the accused man "had several prior arrests for violent behavior."
FREMONT, CA — A transient has been arrested in Fremont on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a weapon, probation violation and a hate crime, according to the Fremont Police Department. The 55-year-old John Mata "had several prior arrests for violent behavior" before his latest run-in with the law.
“We take these matters seriously and I am proud of the swift and thorough investigation conducted by our patrol officers last night,” Capt. Fred Bobbitt said on Thursday. “We want all Fremont residents to feel safe living in our community.”
Police received a call around midnight from a man wearing a Muslim cap. He said that while talking with a friend, a transient threw a rock at them, narrowly missing the face of one of them. He and his friend took cover behind a wall, and called out to the man.
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They eventually came out from behind the wall where they were confronted by the transient who was holding a four foot long stick in a threatening manner. He commented on the victim’s ethnicity and said something similar to “you are not allowed to be here.”
As the victims called police, the suspect fled on a bicycle. The victims followed the suspect from a distance in their vehicle, which they reported to the dispatcher. Mata stopped and swung the stick in their direction as they approached. The victim told police that the stick would have hit his vehicle if he hadn't sped up to get past Mata.
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Officers arrived shortly after that and took Mata into custody.
Officers returned to the crime scene where they located rocks and wood that were part of a construction site. They found a third victim, also wearing a Muslim cap, who said that an object had been thrown at him. He said that Mata sounded intoxicated and was shouting bad language.
Fremont Police report that this is the first hate crime arrest in the city in 2019.
If you have any information about the alleged hate crime, call Fremont Police at 510-790-6800 x 3. You may also text a short message to 888-777 or submit information online.
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