911 caller says Cary greenway jogger spat, threw water bottles at people of color

Cary police are investigating a report of a jogger who spat and threw water bottles at two people, in what the victims believe were racially motivated incidents.

On Wednesday, around 11 a.m., the Cary Police Department received a call reporting a civil disturbance on the White Oak Greenway. The caller said a person was spitting and throwing water bottles at other people on the trail.

“He hit the guy’s phone out of his hand, another guy who was walking behind us, then he spit on him,” the 911 caller said.

“He came by multiple times with insults,” the caller said. “He threw a water bottle at us.”

The 911 caller said they were with two family members when they were attacked.

“We were just walking,” the caller said.

“Did you walk past him and it offended him?” asked the 911 dispatcher.

“Yes,” said the caller.

The victims, an Iranian man and a Chinese American woman, believe the attacks were racially motivated, The News & Observer’s media partner, ABC11, reported.

A Police Department spokesperson said detectives have not yet determined the motivation for the attacks.

“He just said something like ‘go back,’” said the 911 caller.

The caller said they were afraid of the person damaging their car.

“We are fearful that potentially he may have a weapon in his car, and is waiting for us,” the caller said. “We have no idea.”

This story was originally published March 25, 2021 at 9:02 AM.