Police in Vermont say the second suspect in a hate-motivated assault was arrested Wednesday morning.
Brattleboro police say officers responded to Elliot Street Sunday evening around 9 p.m. for a report of an assault, where they found two victims.
Police say a male victim was randomly attacked and repeatedly struck with a beer bottle, while a female passerby was attacked because she was black. The suspects, a man identified as Patrick Wayne Poillon and a woman later identified as Mariam J. Belarj, allegedly shouted racial slurs as they assaulted the female, who police say is black.
The suspects ran away, and the victims were treated for non-life threatening injuries, according to police.
State and county police helped Brattleboro track down Belarj, although it's not clear where she was arrested.
Belarj, 20, was held on bail after being arrested on a slew of charges, including hate-motivated disorderly conduct, aggravated assault, assault and robbery and possession of stolen property. It's unclear if she has an attorney or when her arraignment is scheduled.
Poillon was apprehended on Elliot Street early Wednesday morning. He was held on bail and was charged with assault and battery, aggravated disorderly conduct, hate motivated crime, simple assault and resisting arrest. It's unclear if he has an attorney.
