A 32-year-old Orange County man is facing possible hate crime charges after he reportedly grabbed a woman by the buttocks with both hands inside of a store and made a comment about her ethnicity.  

The Nov. 8 incident, according to a news release from the Westminster Police Department, occurred at around 7:45 a.m. at a retail outlet in the 13500 block of Beach Boulevard.  

Police said the victim, a 43-year-old Garden Grove woman, entered the store and walked into the laundry aisle. She told investigators that when she bent down, the suspect, now identified as Westminster resident Aaron Navies, assaulted her.  

“The victim alleged when she reached down to pick up an item, the arrestee without provocation and against her will grabbed her buttocks with both hands,” the release stated. “The victim immediately stood up, threw an item at Navies and backed away. Navies told the victim, ‘You don’t have rights because you’re Mexican and I can do what I want to.’”  

Authorities added that when the woman, disgusted, began speaking Spanish, Navies “stuck his tongue out and moved it up and down in what she perceived as sexual in nature.”  

The Garden Grove woman immediately called police, who located him inside the store and detained him without incident.  

After collecting evidence and speaking to both parties, authorities confirmed that the victim wanted to press charges and arrested Navies for a hate crime and sexual battery.  

“The Westminster Police Department does not tolerate hate crimes,” the release noted. “If you or someone you know believe you may be the victim of a hate crime, please contact your local law enforcement agency for resources and assistance.”

While authorities said this appears to be an isolated incident, anyone with information about the investigation is urged to contact Westminster PD investigators at 714-898-3315. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers Hotline at 855-TIP-OCCS or leave tips online at www.occrimestoppers.org.  

A burglary attempt at a Long Beach restaurant last week marks the fifth time the Mexican food grill has been hit since opening three years ago.  

The Nov. 6 incident unfolded in the early morning hours, with the establishment’s surveillance cameras capturing two hooded suspects exiting an Infinity and attempting to smash their way through the restaurant’s front glass with what appeared to be a crowbar.  

“Then they start knocking on the glass,” Cynthia Zaragoza explained to KTLA’s Carlos Saucedo. “They’re unable to break it.”  

Because La Esquinta Mexican Grill on Willow Street has been broken into many other times, the owner invested in shatterproof glass. Even with these types of protections, it hasn’t stopped criminals from targeting the restaurant.  

“It’s a huge setback,” Zaragoza said. “I mean, it’s not like we’re making thousands in profits with everything, the cost of living being so high. It’s hard to come back from this.”  

Owner Erik Vasquez told KTLA in Spanish that despite the setbacks, he is still pulling through but wants more help from local authorities.  

On Tuesday, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, along with state officials, walked through downtown, looking for and discussing ways of revitalizing the struggling business corridor. An estimated 100 businesses have left the area since the height of the pandemic.  

“We’re looking forward as we update our downtown plan, our shoreline plan,” the mayor said. “What’s the future look like?” 

People who live and work in downtown Long Beach say that crime and homelessness are major factors in driving out businesses.  

“It’s definitely scaring customers away,” Carla Magana, who works in Long Beach, told KTLA. “We’re very fearful to walk to our cars.”  

The goal, according to officials, is to get a handle on the crime rate, but many downtown businesses and residents wonder if it’s already too late.  

“To the thieves, I promise you, there is nothing of value you can take in here. We leave the register open on purpose so they can see there is no cash, nothing on the premises,” Zaragoza said. “Hopefully, now, there’s a little more punishment for this. Otherwise, I don’t know how long we can stay open if things like this keep happening.”  

A GoFundMe campaign has been organized for La Esquinta Mexican Grill as works to repair the damage done to the restaurant yet again.  

Family members of a 36-year-old Playa Vista woman who has not been seen or heard from in nearly two weeks have come from all over the country to try and find her.  

Chanel Banks, according to family members, moved to Los Angeles more than a decade ago to pursue a career in acting.  

Her cousin, Danielle-Tori Singh, told KTLA that she never thought her first trip to California would be to look for Banks, who hasn’t been heard from since late October.  

“The last text we got from her before her phone went off the grid was Oct. 30,” Singh explained. “I’m not going to leave California until I find my cousin.”  

Once she learned that Banks’ phone was dead, and her car and dog were still at her Playa Vista apartment along Jefferson Boulevard, she notified police.  

Investigators with the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed to KTLA that they are looking into the disappearance of the aspiring actress, and have conducted four separate welfare checks, sparking fear in loved ones that something horrible might’ve happened.  

“We love you so much,” Singh said, trying to hold back tears. “We just want to know you’re okay and that you’re safe and that nobody did anything to you.”  

As for Banks’ husband, right now he does not appear to be canvassing with his wife’s family and, so far, has not responded to KTLA’s requests for comment.  

Until the authorities and family members learn more details about what may have happened, Banks’ mother Judy Singh, who flew to L.A. from New York to help with the search, asks people to pray.  

“Pray for my daughter because at this point, we don’t know exactly [what happened],” the worried mother said. “We are hearing stuff here and there, people saying this and that, but I know that’s not my daughter.”  

A GoFundMe campaign has been organized to help the family hire a private investigator and cover expenses in L.A. while they continue the desperate search for their loved one.