Florida woman accused of pepper spraying Asian women in Chelsea arrested on hate crime charges

NEW YORK — A Florida woman who allegedly used pepper spray on a group of Asian women in Manhattan has been arrested on hate crime charges. 

Police said 47-year-old Madeline Barker of Merritt Island, Florida got into an argument with four women in Chelsea on June 11. 

Barker allegedly made anti-Asian statements before using pepper spray on the women.

She was charged with multiple counts of assault, attempted assault and harassment as hate crimes.