Novato ​Man Arrested For Hate Crime, Spraying Bear Spray: Police

NOVATO, CA — A man was arrested last week on suspicion of spraying another man with bear repellant spray as a hate crime in Novato, police said Tuesday.

Officers responded Aug. 2 to a report of a man who had been sprayed in the face with bear repellant spray, according to the Novato Police Department. The spray is a non-lethal aerosol irritant that is only approved for use on bears.

The victim told officers he was sitting on the ground when the suspect approached him, threatened to "sic his dog" on him, and sprayed him with the bear repellant, police said. Medics treated the victim and took him to a hospital.

According to police, there was not enough information to identify the suspect during the initial investigation. The following day, however, witnesses provided details and told police that the suspect said he sprayed the victim because of his race.

Based on witness statements, officers learned that the suspect knew or came to know that the victim was possibly developmentally disabled. The suspect reportedly made derogatory statements about people suffering from mental illness, police said.

The suspect was identified as Bret Chappell, a 57-year-old Novato resident. Police served a search warrant Thursday at Chappell's home and arrested him. He was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of illegal use of tear gas, being a felon in possession of a tear gas weapon, and commission of a hate crime.

"The Novato Police Department would like to thank the community and those who came forward with valuable information to further this investigation," the department said in a statement. "We have zero tolerance for hate crimes of any nature and we are committed to investigating these crimes to the fullest extent."

Report hate incidents to Novato police at 415-897-4361 or online. Send anonymous tips to crimetips@novato.org.