Man arrested for physically and verbally assaulting a disabled person in Toledo

The National Police have arrested a 29-year-old man in Toledo as the alleged perpetrator of a serious act of discrimination , physically and verbally assaulting a person with a disability.

The incident occurred on the night of July 30, when the alleged perpetrator began mocking the victim for using a wheelchair. After being reprimanded for his actions, he began insulting him until he ended up throwing him to the ground and hitting him repeatedly on the head , the National Police reported in a statement on Thursday.

The people who witnessed the attack called 091 to request the presence of the National Police. Upon their arrival, the alleged perpetrator refused to identify himself and attacked the officers, leading to his initial arrest for assaulting a law enforcement officer.

Subsequently, officers from the National Police's Violent Extremism and Hate Crime (EVO) team opened a police investigation to determine whether these events could constitute a hate crime.

EVO teams are units made up of officers specialized in the investigation and detection of hate crimes and all behaviors that violate legal standards on discrimination and undermine respect for diversity and peaceful coexistence in society.

After obtaining evidence that the attack was motivated solely by prejudice and disdain for the victim's disability, the unit arrested him for committing a crime against moral integrity.