San Jose 'Racist Karen' Arrested for Stalking After License Plate Cameras ID Her Vehicle
Lindsay Hansen, 47, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of stalking and hate crimes after going viral for berating a father and child.
San Jose Woman Who Went Viral for Racist Encounter Arrested on Stalking and Hate Crime Charges
A 47-year-old San Jose woman who gained widespread attention after a video showed her berating a father and his young daughter has been arrested, NY Post Metro reports — caught in part by the same type of surveillance technology she appeared to fear.
Lindsay Hansen was taken into custody Wednesday by San Jose Police Department officers and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of stalking and hate crimes, among other charges. Her bail was set at $10,000. No court date had been listed in jail records as of the time of reporting.
Automated license plate cameras — tools police use to identify and track vehicles, though they have drawn scrutiny from privacy advocates — helped officers locate Hansen's vehicle. Her license plate had been visible in the viral footage that circulated widely online.
The San Jose Police Department announced Thursday that Hansen's arrest stemmed from two separate incidents: the confrontation with the San Jose father and child, during which police said she made "discriminatory remarks at them," and a separate incident at a San Jose high school. Investigators also linked her to "a series of other incidents that occurred in the city of San Jose," according to the department.
"SJPD Assaults Unit Detectives began a comprehensive investigation into all reported incidents and subsequently located and arrested the suspect in the city of San Jose," police wrote in a statement. "She was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail for multiple crimes, including stalking and hate crimes."
The department added that it "remains committed to thoroughly investigating any reports of crime victimizing our community."
What the Viral Video Showed
In the footage that sparked the investigation, Hansen is seen leaning toward her passenger-side window and directing a prolonged tirade at a man walking with a young girl. She claimed to be working with federal authorities and accused the father of sex trafficking his child.
"I'm recording you too. I work with the feds. Have a good day," she says in the video.
"I'm just making sure that you're not sex trafficking this poor little girl who's very unhappy to be with you and doesn't look like you," she continued. "That's a white little girl and you are a man of color. So I believe you are either buying or selling or trafficking this child."
The man who posted the video identified himself as brown and his daughter as half-white, and said Hansen had harassed them on multiple prior occasions in their neighborhood.
Social Media Posts and Prior Psychiatric History
Hansen, who is a mother herself, had posted a range of content on social media before her arrest, including suggestions that Pope Leo XIV is Satan, references to the Epstein files, antisemitic material, and a claim that the birth of her child in 2020 marked the start of a seven-year biblical tribulation period.
She also shared court documents related to her past psychiatric treatment. Among the records she posted was a declaration filed in May 2022 by Bay Area psychiatrist Dr. Shellie Kahane, who wrote that Hansen displayed symptoms consistent with bipolar disorder and was experiencing a manic episode with "psychotic features" at the time.
According to that filing, Hansen's symptoms included delusions, auditory hallucinations, and paranoia. Kahane noted that Hansen did not believe she needed treatment, and that Hansen stated "it is her job 'to drive around and ID pedophiles' and wants to continue to do so." The filing indicated she had been prescribed Invega, an antipsychotic.
The records also reflected an involuntary commitment to the Telecare Heritage Psychiatric Health Facility under a 5250 hold in 2022.
Investigation Ongoing
Police confirmed Thursday that the investigation remains active. Anyone with information about incidents connected to Hansen is asked to contact SJPD Assaults Unit Detectives at (408) 277-4161.
Source: NY Post Metro