KEY POINTS

  • Dennis Wyman was arrested after allegedly driving his car into a group of Black people last month
  • Police say Wyman began to yell racial insults at the group before entering his vehicle and ramming them
  • A 50-year-old off-duty security guard was injured in the incident
  • Wyman is facing two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of hit-and-run
  • He will also face a special allegation that the crimes that he allegedly committed were hate crimes

A California man is facing assault and hate crime charges after police alleged that he intentionally drove his vehicle into a group of Black people last month.

Dennis Wyman was charged Monday, July 13, with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of hit-and-run resulting in serious injury to another person.

The 42-year-old Redondo Beach resident will also face a special allegation that the crimes that he allegedly committed were hate crimes, said NBC Los Angeles.

Handcuffs
This representative photo shows handcuffs at the Commissariat de Police Nationale (National Police Station) in Alfortville, France, Nov. 21, 2016. Thomas Samson/AFP/Getty Images

The incident happened on June 29 when Torrence Police officers responded to a shots fired report on Prairie Avenue at around 11:36 p.m. It was here that they found a 50-year-old man suffering from lower extremity injuries after he was struck by a vehicle.

The victim – an off-duty security guard – was treated at the scene by the Torrance Fire Department and later transported to a local hospital, Sergeant Alexander Martinez said in a press release.

The security guard, which was armed at the time of the incident, managed to fire several shots at Wyman's car before he was struck by the vehicle. The suspect then fled the scene. Prosecutors told Heavy that the man was the father of one of the men in the parking lot and that he went to the scene “to defend the group.”

Police learned that Wyman started to yell racial insults at a group of African Americans who were gathered in the parking lot of Staybridge Hotel shortly after midnight. Wyman then entered his vehicle and drove it at the victims.

Redondo Beach officers arrested Wyman on July 8 after he was located and detained during a traffic stop. Torrance later arrived and arrested the suspect.

Wyman was initially arrested for attempted murder, but the charge was dropped by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and decided to charge Wyman with assault and hit-and-run driving. The prosecutor then “enhanced” the charges as hate crimes.

NBC Los Angeles said Wyman is being held on a $1 million bail. He could face up to 12 years in prison if he is convicted of his charges.

No details as to why the group had gathered or how the argument started were released.

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