A Day Later, Another Arrest for Man Charged with Slapping Wheechair-Bound Woman at Bus Stop

CRANSTON, RI—One day after being charged with assaulting a disabled woman in a wheelchair at a city bus stop, police arrested 55-year-old Emile Perrault a second time just over 24 hours later for intimidating the same victim at the same bus stop.

Perrault was arrested Wednesday night after the victim called 911 to report that Perrault was swearing at her in reference to the alleged assault he was arrested for on Tuesday.

Police said Perrault was taken into custody without incident and is being held overnight until his arraignment at the Kent County Courthouse Thursday morning.

His detainment is "due to the fact he violated the terms of his release," said Cranston Police Chief Col. Michael J. Winquist Jr. in a news release.

Perrault is now facing charges of intimidation of a witness and disorderly conduct. Yesterday, he was charged with felony assault on a person with severe impairments and two misdemeanors: resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

During his arrest on Tuesday, Perrault allegedly threatened to deliver a roundhouse kick to Traffic Officer Wayne DeCosta, who responded after the initial assault report.

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 a witness who called police.

He also credited DeCosta "who safely took the suspect into custody."

Perrault allegedly told police he thought the victim was a "dumb cripple bitch"after DeCosta found him near the bus stop on Tuesday afternoon.

Perrault had fled the scene after allegedly slapping the victim several times in the face. The blows knocked a pair of sunglasses off her face.

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."

Police said they will work closely with the state attorney general to prosecute Perrault "to the fullest extent of the law."