Crime & Safety

Knife-Wielding Man Screamed Slurs At Black Man, Police Say

The man insisted a white officer take him into custody and continued saying racial slurs as he was booked into jail, police said.

SANTA CRUZ, CA — A white man was arrested in Santa Cruz Sunday after drawing a knife on a black man and shouting racial slurs, police said.

Ole Hougen, 43, slashed at the victim, who was able to fend off his attacker until officers arrived, the Santa Cruz Police Department said. Police arrived to San Lorenzo Boulevard and Broadway Street around 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Officers began to take him into custody and Hougen said he wanted a "white person to help" arrest him, police said. Hougen continued to direct racial epithets toward officers and jail staff as they booked him into jail, police said.

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He was arrested on suspicion of charges related to assault with a deadly weapon and committing a hate crime, police said.

Anyone who witnesses a possible hate crime is urged to call 911 and inform police.

Find out what's happening in Santa Cruzfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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