Hate-Crime Charges Filed in Dog Attack on Black

Hate-crime charges have been brought against a white man accused of sicking a Rottweiler dog on a black man and threatening him with a loaded gun while yelling racial epithets, prosecutors announced Monday.

Patrick Hayday, 30, of Long Beach is charged with seven criminal violations in connection with the Jan. 16 incident at the intersection of 7th Street and Central Avenue in Los Angeles, said Deputy City Atty. Vivienne A. Swanigan.

The unidentified victim, who was bitten three times, was standing at the intersection when Hayday walked by and allegedly sicked the dog on him, Swanigan said. Hayday then allegedly followed the man across the intersection while shouting racial epithets, and allowed the dog to bite the victim again. At that point, witnesses told police, Hayday pointed a semiautomatic pistol at the man, the prosecutor said.

The incident was witnessed by a special agent with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Swanigan said. The alleged attack appeared to be unprovoked, the special agent told police.