An Auckland woman has been charged over an alleged hate-motivated assault which took place on Queen Street in September, after being arrested for a separate incident.
Police said the 43-year-old was arrested Sunday for allegedly abusing and assaulting staff at a downtown Auckland store.
However, her physical description, when it was relayed on police radio, matched that of an offender involved in a alleged hate motivated assault which took place on September 2. A team investigating the September incident made the connection, police said.
Police had made “extensive” inquiries after the assault, including reviewing CCTV footage from the central city on the day of the alleged offending.
Despite the footage, which police said included other alleged assaults by the same woman, it had been unable to identify her.
“The woman was arrested for the incident at the downtown Auckland store on Sunday, and officers have since been able to identify her as the person allegedly responsible for the offending on 2 September also.”
“In relation to the offending on 2 September, the woman has been charged with three counts of common assault, two counts of assault with intent to injure, and one of theft.”
On the incident at the downtown Auckland store yesterday, police said the woman has been charged with common assault, drug possession, and three counts of assaulting a police officer.
At the time, police said the September 2 incident saw a woman approached by an unknown woman.
“The offender has assaulted the victim, before yelling verbal threats and took a number of items before leaving on foot.”
