Monday 20 June 2022 02:22 AM Florida woman charged with hate crime after being filmed in NYC pepper-spraying ... trends now
A woman who was filmed pepper spraying four Asian women in a racially motivated attack in Manhattan last week was arraigned and charged with a hate crime Sunday, after video of the incident went viral.
The suspect, 47-year-old Madeline Barker, was caught on camera hurling racial insults at the victims, such as 'Go back to where you came from' and you don't belong here,' during the June 10 altercation.
Barker was ruled a possible flight risk at her first court appearance Saturday in Manhattan, and ordered held on $20,000 bail.
Prosecutors lobbied for the judge to declare Barker a flight risk because she’s from Florida, didn’t turn herself in and was only caught after an eyewitness recognized her on the street, according to the New York Post.
Barker's Legal Aid Counsel argued that the media coverage of the incident had 'amplified' the case.
She faces charges of assault as a hate crime, with Judge Eric Schumacher setting bail at $20,000 cash, $20,000 partially secure bond. She appeared wearing a denim jacket and a white facemask.
A woman who was filmed pepper spraying four Asian women in a racially motivated attack in Manhattan last week was arraigned and charged with a hate crime Sunday, after video of the incident went viral
The suspect, 47-year-old Madeline Barker, was caught on camera hurling racial insults at the victims, such as 'Go back to where you came from' and you don't belong here,' during the June 10 altercation
Barker was ruled a possible flight risk at her first court appearance Saturday in Manhattan, and ordered held on $20,000 bail
Prosecutors lobbied for the judge to declare Barker a flight risk because she’s from Florida, didn’t turn herself in and was only caught after an eyewitness recognized her on the street
The incident, which transpired in a public plaza in the Meatpacking District, subsequently sparked a search for the then-unidentified woman - dubbed 'Karen' by internet users.
Police now reveal the woman - who wore a bright pink pashmina and Jacqueline Onassis-esque sunglasses during her tirade - is in custody.
Barker, who hails from Florida, now faces hate crime charges for the attack, and was awaiting an appearance Saturday in Manhattan Criminal Court on charges of assault as a hate crime, attempted
