Palo Alto Woman Arrested for Hate Crime After Spitting, Racial Slurs

A 50-year-old woman, Lisa Madden, was arrested in Palo Alto after allegedly spitting on a man in his 60s and shouting racial slurs directed at Black people. The incident occurred around 6 p.m. on Saturday at Lytton Plaza, where the victim reported being attacked without provocation. After the assault, the man left the plaza, but Madden continued to yell at him until police arrived and detained her nearby. She was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on charges of battery, disturbing the peace, and a hate crime enhancement, along with an outstanding felony warrant for vandalism. Authorities encourage anyone with further information to contact the Palo Alto Police Department.