Frederick Ryan, Chief of Police
112 Mystic St.
Arlington, MA 02474
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018
Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net
Arlington Police Charge Man with Hate Crime after Incident at Cell Phone Store
ARLINGTON — Chief Frederick Ryan reports that the Arlington Police Department has arrested a man and charged him with a hate crime after a disturbing altercation inside a cellular phone shop.
ANDREW ROBERT DECARLO, AGE 36, OF SOMERVILLE was charged with Assault with Intent to Intimidate, as a hate crime under M.G.L c. 265, § 39.
On Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 8 p.m., Arlington Police were called a Verizon Wireless retail location on Massachusetts Avenue to investigate a disturbance.
Upon arrival, officers were met by a clerk who told police that a man had entered the store and asked the clerk to fix his cell phone. The employee asked the man if the phone had a Verizon Wireless subscription, and the man stated that it did not. The employee told the man that he could not help him because he was only allowed to handle or repair Verizon phones. The employee tried to direct the man to another store for further assistance, but the man allegedly became irate and started shouting racial and anti-immigrant epithets at the clerk.
According to the clerk, the man continued swearing and using racist language and was sweating, grinding his teeth, and clinching his fists as the suspect moved around the corner of the storefront counter and began moving towards employee in a menacing manner. This caused the clerk to fear for his safety.
With a description of the suspect in hand, officers began to search the area for the assailant. A short time later DECARLO was found and arrested after an on-scene investigation.
“The hard-working men and women of Arlington deserve to earn a living free of harassment and hatred,” Chief Ryan said. “Nothing gives an individual the right to put another person in fear for their safety, and I am very proud of the professionalism of our officers to find this individual. I would also point out the resiliency and bravery of the store employee in this case to report this incident for what it was: a hate crime.”
DECARLO is known to police. He is being held pending arraignment in Cambridge District Court Wednesday.
These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.
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