Korean man attacked by anti-Japanese bigot near Seattle

Hate crime charges have been filed against a 21-year-old man in a Shoreline attack that saw a man dragged into a busy street.

King County prosecutors contend Dion A. Packard accosted the other man on Oct. 26 at a gas station. Packard, an Arlington resident, is alleged to have derided Japanese people while attacking the man, who was born in Korea.

“This was an unprovoked attack on … a complete stranger to the defendant that was committed in broad daylight,” Deputy Prosecutor Tina Marie Mares said in charging papers.

At 11:30 a.m., King County deputies were called to the Chevron station at 19th Avenue Northeast and Ballinger Way Northeast following a report of a fight there.

Speaking with witnesses, deputies were told Packard attacked the man and pulled him into Ballinger Way before bystanders pulled him off, according to charging papers. Packard is alleged to have made racist, nonsensical comments during the attack.

“Why are you defending this (anti-Japanese slur)?” Packard asked one man who broke up the attack, according to charging papers. “Americans fought and died in the war. … Why aren’t you helping me out?”

According to charging papers, Packard went on to contend that the United States war in Vietnam occurred to assist the Japanese.

The alleged victim suffered cuts and bruises to his face, and was disturbed by “the fact that the only reason for this assault was due to (his) race,” a King County detective told the court.

Packard was arrested nearby and later taken to a hospital for examination. According to charging papers, Packard admitted the attack was racially motivated.

“I beat him up to keep the white people safe!” Packard told hospital workers, according to charging papers.

Packard has been charged with fourth-degree assault and malicious harassment, Washington’s hate crime law. He remains jailed on $50,000 bail.