Racist American man from Quincy hit Asian victim with car after yelling 'Go Back to China'

By Edward Era Barbacena

A 77-year-old man is being held without bail after police say he repeatedly told an Asian man to "Go back to China" before hitting him with his car, throwing him into a ditch.

John Sullivan, of Granite Street in Quincy, was charged with two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, civil rights violation, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash causing personal injury. He was arraigned in Quincy District Court Friday, where he pleaded not guilty. A judge ordered him held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Police say Sullivan was driving in the area of the Washington Street post office Friday morning where he "exchanged words" with pedestrians in the area about the speed he drove through the neighborhood, a spokesperson for the Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey's office said. He reportedly told one of them, an Asian man, to "Go back to China."

Sullivan then hit the man with his car, pushing him onto the hood of the vehicle, Morrissey's office said, and drove with him on the hood for about 50 yards. He stopped at the intersection of Foster Street, where the victim was able to get off the hood. He was then told to "Go back to China" a second time, hit with the car again and pushed into a nearby ditch that was under construction, officials said.

Sullivan left the scene of the crash, Morrissey's office said, but Quincy police were notified by authorities in Braintree that a car with the same license plate associated with the incident had been in a different crash on Quincy Avenue. He was then arrested by Quincy police.