Elderly Chinese Man Requests Charges of Suspect Who Recorded Robbery Be Dropped

The video showed a group verbally abusing and physically attacking the elderly man with a metal bar after stealing his cart of recycled cans. By the end of the video, the victim is seen on camera in tears.

Grayson filmed the attack and posted it onto social media, which led to his arrest last Thursday. He was booked for elder abuse, suspicion of robbery, elder abuse, a hate crime charge, and a probation violation. However, the district attorney’s office decided to use a “restorative justice” model against the accused, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, stated that after being in conversation with the victim of the incident, it became clear that he “expressed interest in a restorative justice outcome in this case… specifically against the young person who videoed the incident.”

Restorative justice is a community-based approach to dealing with crime, the effects of crime and the prevention of crime, according to Conflict Solutions Center.

“A Restorative Justice process operates from a belief that the path to justice lies in problem solving and healing rather than punitive isolation,” the center’s website says.

Boudin made her decision based on respect for the wishes of the elderly victim.

Meanwhile, the second suspect, 56-year-old Jonathan Amerson, came forward on Sunday and will likely face charges, according to ABC7. He was accused of robbing the same elderly man two months ago.