US man under probe for repeatedly attacking Sikh youth

A 31-year-old US man is facing possible hate crime charges after a Sikh youth told Colorado police that he repeatedly pulled his beard and called it a 'paintbrush', the latest in a string of such incidents targeting members of the community.

David Perkins is suspected of third-degree assault, harassment and a bias-motivated crime and was ticketed last week on suspicion of harassing the same victim, whose identity was not revealed, at least six times, dating back to 2005.

Perkins is accused of grabbing the victim's beard, calling it a 'paintbrush' and hitting or shoving the victim on several occasions and was due to appear in Boulder County court.

Greg Geikas, 30, was also ticketed last week on suspicion of harassing the Sikh because, police said, he pulled the victim's beard and said, "I've always wanted to do that", the dailycamera website reported.

"This is a made-up story from a year and a half ago," Perkins said. Boulder police didn't release the victim's name because Colorado law protects people who fear retaliation for agreeing to cooperate with investigators.

A police spokeswoman said that the victim is in his 20s, and he and Perkins are acquaintances. The alleged harassment started in December 2005, when Perkins is accused of pushing the victim at a pub.

The victim said he again encountered Perkins in May 2006, when Perkins grabbed his beard and yelled, "Paintbrush, it looks like a paintbrush," according to a police report.

When investigators asked Perkins about the allegations, he said that he did remember pulling the victim's beard two or three times. But Perkins told officers he was joking.

The incident came as Sikhs in New York held a protest against alleged hate crime attacks on three school students.