San Luis Obispo police arrested 55-year-old Kristoffer Hans Pfister for public intoxication after reports that he was wearing clothing described as a Ku Klux Klan-style robe while walking through the city. Police reviewed whether the incident qualified as a hate crime but determined there was insufficient evidence to substantiate one.
Calls Came In From Creekside Mobile Home Park
According to A-Town Daily News, police received a call on September 13 about Pfister being involved in a verbal confrontation at Creekside Mobile Home Park. The San Luis Obispo Police Department said witnesses reported seeing him drink from a bottle of alcohol while wearing the robe-like clothing before he left the park.
The outlet's account states that Pfister was later seen in the Trader Joe's parking lot and again near the intersection of Tank Farm Road and Higuera Street. As reported by San Luis Obispo Police Department, he was seen throwing traffic cones into the roadway during that time and was in the process of removing the clothing described in the reports.
Officers Determined He Could Not Care For His Own Safety
Officers found Pfister in the 3900 block of South Higuera Street and determined that, because of intoxication, he could not care for his own safety, according to the San Luis Obispo Police Department. He was arrested and booked into the San Luis Obispo County Jail on suspicion of public intoxication. California Penal Code section 647(f) defines the offense cited in the arrest.
Hate Crime Question Under Investigation
The San Luis Obispo Tribune reported that police investigated whether the incident constituted a hate crime and found insufficient evidence to substantiate one, documenting the matter as a noncriminal hate expression. The city said it was aware of a photo circulating online that showed an individual wearing attire associated with a hate group and had begun reaching out to community groups and organizations. City officials also reaffirmed their commitment to a safe community.
What statewide hate-crime data can show
The California Department of Justice cautions that its annual hate-crime statistics are compiled from events reported to law enforcement and therefore do not capture incidents that are never reported. As a result, statewide totals can describe reported incidents over time but cannot by themselves measure every bias-motivated act or independently establish that every reported allegation was a hate crime.
The city offers support to community groups and organizations and provides information about access and belonging through its website, along with resources at its hate-reporting page. Anyone who had contact with Pfister or who believes they were the target of a hate crime can contact the City of San Luis Obispo's police department at (805) 781-7312, which also provides callers access to a watch commander. The city says that same non-emergency line handles requests for police or fire department assistance more broadly.
The Central Coast Hotline, at (800) 783-0607, offers free and confidential local emotional and mental health resources around the clock, according to the report.
