A Chinese vendor working at the intersection of Canal and Mulberry streets in Chinatown pursuing an African youth was arrested instead of the youth who stole his fruits yesterday afternoon. The witnesses watching the instance were outraged by the injustice. The commanding officer of the 5th Precinct, Captain James McCarthy, went to calm the anger of the public personally. After speaking with many witnesses, he decided not to indict the vendor and file a "harassment” report. The African youth was delivered for routine medical inspection before being taken home by his parents.

Yesterday at nearly 6 p.m., the vendor, Zhao Ch'uan Hsien pursued a 13-year-old youth known for continuously stealing fruits. The youth used the mango and even the vendor’s sitting stool to hit Zhao Ch'uan Hsien. The scene was witnessed by tourists and a patroling officer. After the report was received by the 5th Precinct, the police rushed to the scene and arrested Zhao Ch'uan Hsien immediately. The frightened crying youth was taken to the police vehicle to rest.

Zhao Ch'uan Hsien, 50, was very angry and protested loudly after he was arrested. He said this youth committed crimes many times over the day. Working with partners, he said, the youth stole a mango at one booth and grapes from another. It was only when the youth stole from his booth that Mr. Zhao pursued and captured him, he repeated.

The patroling officer told the 5th Precinct, "The vendor pinched the youth's neck with his hand." Hidden in the vehicle, the crying youth said Zhao Ch'uan Hsien not only pinched his neck, but he also used his foot to violently kick his face. The Chinese eyewitnesses who understood English were angry and told the police that the youth's face did not have any scars, and the youth was not only unscrupulously stealing things, he also ridiculed Chinese vendors as he stole from them.

When the police tried to take Zhao Ch'uan Hsien away, other vendors who witnessed the incident came out and said, "Zhao is innocent and the African youth often steals fruits." They requested the police to release Zhao. As more and more people were gathering, the police worried about losing control over the situation. The Commanding Officer of the 5th Precinct, Captain James McCarthy, came to calm the vendors and Chinese eyewitnesses.

Captain McCarthy took Zhao Ch'uan Hsien, the African youth and several vendors who witnessed the incident to the 5th Precinct for questioning. When Captain McCarthy asked the youth, "What is the matter?" he said that he was chased and pinched by the vendor. One eyewitness shouted from the sidelines,"shut up" and accused the youth of beating an elderly Chinese woman at Mott Street yesterday morning, stealing fruits and consistently lying.

The police believed this African youth had stolen fruits; therefore they did not charge Zhao. Because the youth is less than 16 years old and has not been involved in any serious offenses, they are not able turn him over to juvenile court. He warned Zhao Ch'uan Hsien that chasing and pursuing this youth was very dangerous behavior, and illegal. Zhao Ch'uan Hsien was released last night.