Stevens Point Man Accused of Using Racial Slurs Against Asian Shoppers

Police in Stevens Point are recommending hate crime charges against a man they say harassed Asian Americans for wearing masks in a grocery store.  Officers say the 57-year-old suspect admitted to using racial slurs at Asian Americans, drawing a false connection between the virus’s origin in China and their presence in the community.  The department said it has learned members of the Stevens Point Hmong and Asian community have seen an increase in harassment since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Lieutenant Dana Williams said “we won’t tolerate that in the community. We will investigate, and we will charge people.”