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Yes on Q effort surpasses $100K to push passage
Manteca businesses, labor groups, firefighters, local residents, youth sports organizations, and builders have a lot riding on Measure Q on Tuesday’s ballot. As of Oct. 27, the Yes on Q Committee has now raised $103,549.30 to fund its campaign to gain passage of the 20-year long three-quarter cent sales tax on Nov. 5.
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Beating suspect still behind held without bail
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Beating suspect Tyrone McAllister confers with his attorney public defender Ben Hall in a holding area at the side of a Stockton courtroom. - photo by GLENN KAHL/ Bulletin

The suspect in the beating of a 71-year-old Manteca grandfather as he was taking his morning walk at Graystone Park will be held in the county jail without bail until Sept. 10.

That’s when 18 year-old Tyrone McAllister’s arraignment — continued to that date during a courtroom appearance Friday  

Charged with the assault at Graystone Park on Agate Avenue some 10 days ago, McAllister was scheduled to stand in San Joaquin County Superior Court Friday morning for his continued arraignment in San Joaquin County Superior Court takes place.

Meanwhile on Sunday at 6 p.m. family and friends of beating victim Sahib Singh will conduct a peace walk at the park where he was walking when he was attacked. Those in the community attending will be asked to walk four laps around the park. The first lap will be dedicated to peace, the second lap to love, the third lap to respect, and the fourth lap to unity. The park is located southeast of Louise Avenue and Union Road in Manteca.

McAllister made a brief appearance with his attorney, public defender Ben Hall, from a glassed-in room adjacent to the courtroom Friday.  His arraignment was postponed a second time to Sept. 10 in courtroom 8B where he is expected to make a plea.  Meanwhile he is being held in county jail without bail.

Two members of a worldwide Sikh non-profit watchdog organization waited out in the hall due to the lack of seating in the courtroom.  Karandeep Singh and Sahib Singh (not related to beating victim) said they hoped the assault charge would be changed to that of a hate crime after the man was kicked numerous times and spit on. The incident was caught on a residential security camera. 

The victim, Sahib Singh, had prior paralysis in his upper body and arm when he was kicked in the groin and torso as well as in his jaw causing restricted speech, the two members of the watchdog group said.

A similar assault by two hooded men in Keyes in Stanislaus County last month led to the beating of another Sikh — 50-year-old Surjit Malhi.  He had been putting out campaign signs for Congressman Jeff Denham and other Republican candidates when he was struck repeatedly with a stick near the intersection of Keyes and Foote roads.  The victim said the only thing he remembered of the two was they had blue eyes. “My turban saved me,” he told Stanislaus County Sheriff’s deputies, adding that may have been why he was targeted.  Malhi has lived in Stanislaus Country for the last 25 years.  

Malhi said the community support has made him stronger.  On the following Sunday some 50 people from his local CrossFit gym help him clean his truck and an area around his home adding that Denham reached out to him to make sure he was OK.  While still sore from the beating he said the ordeal has made him feel more American than ever before. 

The two men had also spray painted a message down the side of his pickup telling him to “Go back to your country” and sand was thrown into his eyes.  No suspects have been found to date.  

At the Stockton courtroom Friday, Karandeep Singh said that from his standpoint that the Manteca assault was also that of a hate crime similar to those that he has seen before.  

“We have worked on many hate crimes and feel that this was definitely a hate crime,” he insisted.

The two said they had visited the family of suspect Tyrone McAllister to see if there was anything they could do to help them and present an aura of peace.

“At some point you feel the government is not doing enough to protect us – it’s devastating and happening on a weekly basis,” Karandeep said. 

The suspect is the son of the Union City police chief. He worked with the Manteca Police Department in the arrest of his son on the assault charges.  He said he has been devasted by how much he nature of his son’s actions are such a departure from everything he has stood for in his personal life and his 37-year career in law enforcement.  He added that son Tyrone has been estranged from the family and from their home for some time.  The McAllisters have two daughters who have been quite successful in their pursuits.  He said he remains steadfast that his son as an adult must be accountable for his actions.