Brockton man accused of hate crime after allegedly shouting homophobic slur and assaulting Taunton man
The incident happened while the victim was outside his home with his husband, authorities said.
A Brockton man is facing assault and hate crime-related charges after he allegedly shouted a homophobic slur and then “violently assaulted” a Taunton man, knocking out two of his teeth.Michael Cates, 34, was arraigned on charges of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and assault and battery to intimidate (based on sexual orientation). He is being held without bail with a dangerousness hearing set for Aug. 6, a news release from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said.Back on June 29, the victim told Taunton police that he and his husband were outside their home when a man drove by. The man then allegedly stopped his vehicle and got out.“The suspect then, according to the victim, yelled a homosexual slur, and punched the victim twice in the face, causing him to lose two teeth,” the release said. “The suspect then retreated back to his vehicle and drove off. The suspect and the victim are apparently unknown to one another.”
The alleged assault happened in front of the victim’s husband and another witness, authorities said. The couple reportedly had a gay pride flag flying at their home and a rainbow sticker on their mailbox.
An investigation, including interviews and video surveillance footage, led authorities to Cates, according to the release. Charges were filed against him on July 23.
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