Crime & Safety
Cranston Man Charged with Assaulting Disabled Woman in Wheelchair at Bus Stop
Emile Perrault struck her in the face after an argument. He later fought with police and said the victim was a "dumb cripple bitch."
CRANSTON, RI—A 55-year-old Cranston man is facing charges for allegedly assaulting a handicapped woman in the face at a city bus stop on Tuesday afternoon.
Emile Perrault, 55, allegedly told police he thought the victim was a "dumb cripple bitch" and said he was a skilled martial artist while threatening the arresting police officer that he would deliver "a round house kick and could knock his head off," said Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist Jr.
Police got a call reporting the assault at around 3:54 p.m.
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The caller said that a man was assaulting the woman in front of D'Evan Manor at 1214 Cranston St., not far from where Traffic Officer Wayne DeCosta was stationed.
Police said Perrault took off after hitting the woman when a witness said they were calling the cops.
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Police said Perrault approached the victim and started to argue before hitting her in the face and knocking off her sunglasses, police said.
DeCosta quickly found Perrault nearby on Howard Avenue where he became verbally abusive and threatening, police said.
Despite his claims of superior fighting skills, Perrault was arrested after a brief struggle.
The police chief said this type of incident is "unconscionable and cowardly" and commended the witness who called police.
He also credited DeCosta "who safely took the suspect into custody. We work closely with the Rhode Island Department of Attorney General to ensure this individual is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Cranston Police Major Todd Patalano said that this crime "deserves serious attention due to the lack and inability a person has as a result of their impairment to protect oneself against an assault."
Perrault was arraigned on Tuesday at police headquarters and released on $10,000 personal recognizance after entering no plea to a felony charge of assault on a person with severe impairments and two misdemeanors: resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
He will return to court at a later date.
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