Case # 17HF1253
Date: September 19, 2017
MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR HATE CRIME AFTER THREATENING TO KILL PERSIAN HOOKAH LOUNGE CUSTOMERS IN LAKE FOREST
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is scheduled to be arraigned today for a hate crime after threatening to kill Persian hookah lounge customers in Lake Forest.
| Defendant | Charges | Maximum Sentence | Court Date |
| Andrew Alan Carruthers, 29, Lake Forest | Charged today with:
Felony
Misdemeanor
Sentencing Enhancement
|
6 years in state prison | Arraignment
Sept. 19, 2017, time to be determined Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana |
Circumstances of the Case
- On Sept. 15, 2017, at approximately 9:00 p.m., Carruthers is accused of walking into BluFig Hookah Lounge in Lake Forest and acting aggressively toward the patrons, who were mainly of Persian descent.
- An employee asked the defendant to leave and Carruthers is accused of reentering multiple times.
- Carruthers is accused of threatening to kill individuals at the Lounge after exhibiting intimidating and aggressive behavior.
- A patron of the Lounge called 911 and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) responded to the scene.
- Carruthers is accused of running from deputies down Lake Forest Drive before surrendering. The defendant is accused of having visible tattoos of symbols associated with white supremacy.
OCSD investigated this case.
Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nichols, Special Prosecutions Unit