SEATTLE — New evidence in a series of home-invasion robberies targeting Asian families has now produced hate crime charges.
The new hate crime charges were filed against two men following a months-long investigation by Seattle and Renton police. Javez Paul Tubbs, 32, and Demarcus Maurice Pate, 28, have been jailed since September, when they were arrested for a series of armed home-invasion robberies that included assaults on several victims.
Police arrested a total of five men at the time.
But now, Seattle Police Department investigators completed an extensive investigation that resulted in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office adding a hate crime to the list of charges they already face, including assault and burglary, which are all felonies. Bail has been set at $1.5 million each.
Seattle police responded to several home-invasion calls that started just after midnight one June morning and continued for several hours into the city of Renton, all targeting Asian people.
The home-invasion robbery in Renton happened at the son’s home of one of the Seattle victims, a couple who spoke little English and called their son to call 911 and then interpret their story for investigators.
FROM OCTOBER | Men charged for south Seattle home invasions targeting Asian families appear in court
That couple’s story included masked men breaking into their home and beating the husband with a gun when they didn’t immediately respond to their demands for cash and jewelry, according to investigators.
The armed robbers left that home, the report said, with $2,000 cash.
A short time after that incident, police responded to that son’s house in Renton, where his wife and child were awakened by masked men busting into their house.
Surveillance video from that home showed the men kicking in the front door and at least one could be heard saying, “Seattle police.”
Additional images from the house show at least two of the five masked men in house holding guns.
Investigators say one…
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