Man Allegedly Assaulted Victims Because of Ethnicity

Brandon Raposa, 21, of 57 Elizabeth St. Apt #1, was arrested on Thursday around 11:20 p.m. after he allegedly assaulted three men from Turkey because he said he was suspicious due to their ethnicity.

Two men called 911 and said they ran from Raposa, but feared the third man in their group was being assaulted. Police found Raposa standing over a man in front of the Marriott Hotel.  The contents of his wallet were scattered around the area, said police.  

Raposa told police he was trying to detain the victim and his friends because he felt "they were suspicious due to their ethnicity. At the Gateway Center, Raposa asked where they were from and what business they had in America.

The men told Raposa they were from Turkey and he reportedly answered “No, you are from Pakistan and I want to talk with you behind the bus.” The men said they didn't want trouble.  

“No. I have a problem. You guys are terrorists,” Raposa allegedly said.  The men ran away, but Raposa grabbed the arm of one man and pushed him to the ground.  He allegedly demanded to see his ID, which is when Raposa threw his wallet to the ground.  

When asked why he didn't call police if he thought the men were suspicious, Raposa allegedly answered that he “did what any American citizen would’ve done” 

Raposa was charged with simple assault. 

Man Allegedly Breaks Into House

Craig Costa, 45, 72 Bedlow Ave. Apt. #1, was arrested Friday around 1:50 a.m. on a felony charge of breaking and entering when a resident is home, a felony charge of threats to public officials and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. Police responded to a house on Malbone Road when a resident woke up to a strange man in his house. Police arrived as he was walking out of the house and ordered him to the ground.  Police said he struggled and resisted while he was placed in handcuffs.

In custody, police said Costa was extremely hostile and banged his head on the prisoner compartment. “Figure out my [expletive] name you corrupt piece of Newport police [expletive].  “I hope I catch you without a badge, I’m gonna pummel your face you [expletive] [expletive].  We will square up when I get out.”   

Man Arrested At Concert

Jerrold Peterson, 49, 602 Fairway Dr., Middletown was arrested on Thursday around 9:38 p.m. on simple assault after he allegedly got into a fight at the Styx Concert.  He allegedly picked a fight with a man who was leaving the concert with his wife and friends.