Two Arrested in Brattleboro for Racial Hate Crime

Police down in Brattleboro have arrested two people for a hate crime. Police say that late last week, officers from the Brattleboro PD responded to Elliot Street for a report of an assault. At the scene, they found two victims: a male who had been attacked randomly and hit with a beer bottle as well as a female passerby who had been assaulted as well.

The reported suspects, a male and female, shouted racial slurs as they had assaulted the female victim.

The suspects reportedly fled down the street and Vermont State Police and the Windham County Sheriff’s Department assisted in tracking them down, including use of the VSP’s K9 Unit. They arrested the female suspect, 20-year old Mariam Belarj for Disorderly Conduct: Hate Motivated as well as other charges.

The second suspect was arrested Wednesday on Elliot Street, identified as Patrick Wayne Poillon.

He was treated for minor injuries sustained during the incident and pleaded not guilty in court. He faces the same hate crime charge as Belarj as well as other charges. Both of the victims have been treated for non life-threatening injuries.