PALM SPRINGS, CA — Three New York residents were arrested on suspicion of a hate crime after allegedly assaulting a transgender woman in Palm Springs Saturday, authorities said.
Officers responded to reports of a physical altercation near a parking structure in the 200 block of South Indian Canyon Drive at approximately 1:15 a.m. Saturday, according to the Palm Springs Police Department.
Police said a family dispute occurred among the suspects — a brother, his sister and the sister’s boyfriend.
“The brother and boyfriend attempted to escort her into a vehicle to leave the area because she was intoxicated; however, she was uncooperative,” police said. “At this time, two women were passing by and, believing the female was being assaulted, attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation. The suspects then turned on the victims, physically assaulting them while using derogatory language directed at one of the women, who was transgender.”
The transgender female suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
Officers took the allegedly intoxicated female and her brother into custody at the scene, while the third suspect fled before police arrived but was located and arrested later at a residence in Cathedral City.
Diana Wheeler, 37, Jonathan Wheeler, 35, and Jack Rafael, 37, all New York state residents, were booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio with bail set at $10,000 each. The Wheeler siblings posted bail while Rafael was still in custody as of early Saturday afternoon, according to inmate records.
They were booked on suspicion of battery and a hate crime.
“Acts of violence and discrimination have no place in our city, and we will continue to take decisive action to hold offenders accountable while fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone,” the PSPD said in a statement Saturday.
