Carlos Simon, 18, had his phone stolen as he waited for a friend outside a Dunkin' Donuts in Staten Island on November 30. Simon said a group of three teenagers first approached him and asked him for money.
Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said Simon was targeted because of his disability. 'All crimes are unacceptable, but those committed against an individual because of his or her disability are particularly despicable,' he said. That may be true in New York City. But not in Cambridge, MA where for 25 years crime families, police and FBI employees including but not limited to Harvard University campus police relentlessly harass, provoke, ridicule, humiliate and slander a 70-year-old man that they say is crazy. Cambridge residents and official have an extremely misguided self image.
[From article]
A 20-year-old New York man will face hate crime charges after he and two others allegedly attacked and robbed a teenager born without arms.
Vincent Popalardo has been charged with robbery as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime for the November 30 robbery of Carlos Simon, 18, in front of a Dunkin' Donuts in Staten Island.
Simon said he was waiting for a friend outside the chain when three people came up and asked him for money.
'I told them no, and they got offended, and one of them threatened to go into my pockets,' Simon told The New York Daily News in December.
Simon had just placed his phone, which he holds with his shoulder and uses his nose for the touch screen, on a window ledge.
He said a fourth man suddenly ran up and swiped the phone before the group fled.
Simon quickly gave chase, but he suddenly realized he was alone with his attackers on an isolated side street.
That's when the three teenagers who had originally approached Simon tried to rob him.
'They cornered me, surrounded me on both sides, and tried to dig their hands into my pockets,' he told CBS New York.
A passerby heard his screams and Simon was able to then run back to the shopping center.
'I guess they just saw me as an easy target,' he said.
[. . .]
Staten Island District Attorney Michael McMahon said Simon was targeted because of his disability.
'All crimes are unacceptable, but those committed against an individual because of his or her disability are particularly despicable,' he said.
'It's really messed up to target people like me specifically,' Simon said.
'I guess I could use the word cowardice, to use that many people on somebody who supposedly can't fight back.'
[. . .]
Popalardo, believed to be the ringleader of the group, was arrested in Erie, Pennsylvania on January 6 and his bail is currently $100,000.
Police said the public's anonymous tips led to three arrests.
Two other juveniles, which police said are a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl, were also charged in the robbery and their case will be handled in family court.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3430811/Vincent-Popalardo-charged-hate-crime-robbing-teenager-born-no-arms.html
New York man, 20, charged with hate crime after attacking and robbing teenager born with no arms
Vincent Popalardo is charged with robbery and assault as a hate crime
He was the alleged ringleader for the November 30 robbery of Carlos Simon
Simon, 18, was alone outside a Staten Island Dunkin' Donuts when three people threatened to go into his pockets
A fourth suspect then came and swiped his phone, police said
The three teens who first approached Simon then surrounded him and tried to rob him before someone walked by and he was able to flee
Police said a 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl were also charged
By ANNETA KONSTANTINIDES FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 17:49 EST, 3 February 2016 | UPDATED: 18:58 EST, 3 February 2016
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