A man who spit on a transgender woman at Target in Glendale was charged recently with suspicion of hate crime and assault.

It wasn't necessarily the spitting that got him in trouble, however, a Glendale police spokeswoman told us. The victim, a 45-year-old woman, was injured in an ensuing fracas, cops said.

She “suffered swelling to her right thumb and an abrasion to her right knee and left calf,” according to a Glendale police statement.

It happened Wednesday at 9:42 p.m. at the Target at 241 S. Central Ave., authorities said. The suspect, identified as 34-year-old Rodolfo Coria, attacked, Glendale police alleged:

Coria made derogatory comments relating to the victim's sexual orientation and spit at the victim, which resulted in a physical altercation.

“There was a scuffle after the spitting,” the Glendale department's Tahnee Lightfoot said. “The derogatory remarks made it a hate crime.”

Coria was jailed and, two days later, charged with suspicion of assault and committing a hate crime, cops said.

He was still in jail overnight, with a $25,000 bail hanging over his head, according to L.A. Sheriff's Department inmate records. Coria was due in court Sept. 9.

Glendale police say they don't play when it comes to hate crime allegations:

The City of Glendale has a zero tolerance to any form of hate crime, regardless of apparent seriousness. Any acts or threats of violence, harassment, property damage, vandalism or other crimes motivated by hate and bias and designed to infringe upon these rights are viewed very seriously and will be given high priority by the Glendale Police Department. 

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