On August 21, 2022, at approximately 8:20 p.m., an employee at a fast food restaurant located in the 40000 block of Grimmer Blvd contacted Fremont Police Department to report a disturbance between two customers. Officers immediately responded and made contact with two men who, according to the reporting party, were getting into an argument. Upon arrival, officers separated both parties and interviewed them. One man stated that the other involved party was verbally abusing him. Officers assisted the man by walking with him to his car and seeing that he left without further contact with the second individual. While interviewing the second man, it was confirmed that a disparaging comment about a particular religion was stated during the verbal argument. At the conclusion of this incident, it was determined one male used extremely offensive and hurtful language toward the other male. Based on the information the officers had at the time, a hate crime could not be established. No physical threats were made by the second individual, and he was not arrested.
Fremont Police Department reviewed the video recording showing a portion of the interaction between the two customers prior to police arrival. In this recorded interaction, one man can be seen and heard directing religious slurs and derogatory comments towards the person holding the camera. Officers contacted and again interviewed the victim in this case to obtain additional details pertaining to the incident prior to police arrival. After the investigation was complete, the case was presented to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for review.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office charged the suspect, Singh Tejinder (37 years old, resident of Union City) with the following crimes: Penal Code 422.6(a) – hate crime in violation of civil rights, Penal Code 240 – assault, and Penal Code 415(3) – disturbing the peace by offensive language. Tejinder is currently on probation with a petition to revoke the probation. A court date has been set where the suspect will be held to answer for the above listed on-view charges. Tejinder is not currently in custody in Alameda County.
Fremont Police Department would like to urge the community to be respectful to each other and to immediately report any circumstances such as this that upon investigation may rise to the level of a crime. If you have information regarding this incident, please contact Sergeant Kim Macdonald at [email protected] or at 510-790-6802.
To obtain charging documents in this case you may contact the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office at (510) 272-6245 or email [email protected].
Incident: Suspect Charged in Hate Crime in Violation of Civil Rights
Date of Incident: August 21, 2022
Location: Restaurant on 40000 block of Grimmer Blvd
Media Contact: Sgt. Kim Macdonald, [email protected]
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