BART moving to ban man who yelled racial epithets and slapped rider

(Editor's note: The video contains graphic language.)

A man captured on cell-phone video yelling racial slurs and assaulting a passenger on a BART train was identified by the transit agency’s police, who are taking action to ban him from riding the transportation system, officials said Friday.

The incident occurred about 10:10 p.m. on Monday when police received reports that a man appeared to threaten another passenger by hitting him and using racial epithets.

By the time police boarded the train at the Union City station, the attacker had already gotten off, officials said.

A man who was captured on film using racial epithets and threatening a passenger while riding BART is banned from using the transit system, officials said Friday. A man who was captured on film using racial epithets and threatening a passenger while riding BART is banned from using the transit system, officials said Friday. Photo: Amy Osborne, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Amy Osborne, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 20 Caption Close BART moving to ban man who yelled racial epithets and slapped rider 1 / 20 Back to Gallery

“We have successfully identified him and we will be moving forward in seeking a prohibition order to ban him from the system,” said Alicia Trost, a BART spokeswoman.

The man was not arrested and his name is being withheld by BART officials. The victim, Charles Wu, who was not injured in the attack, said he did not want to press charges against the suspect, according to BART.

Video of the encounter, which has since gone viral, was uploaded to Facebook and YouTube by Wiseley Wu, who recorded the incident while sitting nearby.

The assailant got on the train near the Coliseum Station and began yelling racial slurs while talking about Warriors’ star Stephen Curry. Charles Wu said he told the man to stop.

The man then approached Charles Wu and threatens to punch him. Riders sitting nearby got up and moved as the suspect directed the racial epithets at Charles Wu and slapped him in the face.

When Charles Wu gets up to confront the attacker, another rider intervened and stopped him while other passengers can be heard saying, “He’s not even worth it.”

When the man exited the train, passengers walked over to Charles Wu and patted him on the back in support, said Wiseley Wu, who is no relation to Charles Wu.

“The video captures an unfortunate, ugly scene,” BART officials wrote on Facebook.

Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani