ALBANY – An Albany parolee has been arrested, accused of assaulting a store employee who had asked him to wear a mask, police said.
The allegations also included the suspect making comments on the employee’s race, leading the assault count to be charged as a hate crime, police said.
Richard Chirse, 33, of Albany, was arrested Tuesday and charged with one count of third-degree assault as a hate crime. He was also taken into custody on a parole warrant, police said.
Chirse entered Hair and Wig Beauty Supply, 139 Central Ave., just before 5:30 p.m. June 12 without a mask, police said.
GAZETTE COVID-19 COVERAGE
The Daily Gazette is committed to keeping our community safe and informed and is offering our COVID-19 coverage to you free.
Our subscribers help us bring this information to you. Please consider a subscription at DailyGazette.com/Subscribe to help support these efforts. Already a subscriber? Thank you!
When the employee approached and asked him to leave because he didn’t have a mask, Chirse “made statements regarding the employee’s race and then proceeded to assault the employee by punching and kicking him,” police said in a release.
The victim, 27, was treated by emergency medical personnel and taken to the hospital for further evaluation.
Chirse was arraigned on the assault charge and parole violation warrant and ordered held.
Categories: -News-, Schenectady County
