By Louis Chan, AsAmNews National Correspondent
The Seattle Police Department confirmed to AsAmNews it is investigating a suspected hate crime we first reported on Saturday.
Teacher Kert Lin says a shopper heading into the Home Depot screamed a racial slur and insult at him.
’Ch*nk open your eyes. Go back to China,’” Lin quoted the other shopper as screaming to him.
“This incident was brought to the Department’s attention by a social media post,” Seattle Police Department spokesperson Sergeant Lauren Truscott said to AsAmNews. “The bias incident in question was documented in a General Offense report and forwarded to the Bias Crimes Coordinator for further investigation.”
Lin has since told AsAmNews the incident started when the man cut him front of him as he tried to make a right turn on his way to the retailer.
“This was before getting into the parking lot. I had the right of way. I had a green. He gunned it and cut in front of me. Then he was going to make another left and I just needed to go straight. I went straight as he was in the turn lane. That’s when he yelled out to me. ‘Hey, Ch*nk, open your eyes. Go back to China.'”
As fate would have it, both vehicles turned into the Home Depot parking lot. Lin pulled up to the suspect’s truck and began snapping photos with his phone. Lin says the man dismissed Lin’s action, saying he couldn’t do anything to him because he owned the company identified on his truck.
Lin told him he was going to report the incident to police. At that point, he says a security guard approached the two and tried to discourage Lin from calling 911. Lin also accused the guard of telling him to leave and let the other man do his shopping.
AsAmNews reached out to Home Depot’s corporate headquarters for comment.
“We would never condone these types of comments, the Home Depot said in a statement. “We’re discussing this with our security partners to reinforce our values and the importance of working with local law enforcement when incidents like this arise between customers.”
Lin says a Seattle police officer he could only identify as Officer Jones arrived to take a report. He said the officer also appeared to be unconcerned.
“He asked what happened,” said Lin. “I explained the tirade . Officer Jones clarified if there was any threat of danger. I said no. He asked if I felt in any way my immediate harm or safety was compromised . I said no. That’s when he concluded there was no crime committed.”
Police Chief Carmen Best has instructed her officers to investigate all incidents of racist name calling. Lin says he feels the officer did not follow the department’s own policy.
“At every level of community, Asian Americans are being ignored,” said Lin. “What is my grandma going to do if this would have happened to her. If this would happen to one of my kids or students, what would their action be and how would they view this community after interacting with this police officer who lied.”
Sgt. Truscott tells AsAmNews the entire incident is being investigated by the Office of Police Accountability for review.
“The Seattle Police Department is committed to documenting and investigating all bias incidents and crimes,” Truscott said. “The Department encourages anyone who feels they have been victimized to call 911.”
Since the incident, Chief Best has called Lin and left a message which he played to AsAmNews. In the message, Best apologizes and invited him to call her back.
“It was recently brought to my attention that someone did not follow our protocol when taking a report regarding racist name calling,” Best said in the message.” Thanks so much. We’re so sorry about that experience but we would love to chat with you.”
Lin is looking forward to what happens next.
“I want to say that ultimately, my interest is in protecting our community,” he said. “We as a community are perceived as outsiders. And with all of this, and for me personally, I was in my community and yet I felt like an outsider because of the response of the Seattle Police Department, Home Depot, bystanders and security.”
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