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| Colin Hayes |
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office Press Release :
Two Charged with
Hate Crime in South Station Assault
BOSTON, July 25,
2013—Two restaurant workers were held on high bail at their arraignment on hate
crime charges for allegedly beating a man at South Station while using
homophobic slurs, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said today.
COLIN HAYES
(D.O.B. 6/30/92) of Quincy and DEREK RUIZ (D.O.B. 6/3/85) of Brockton were
arraigned this afternoon in the Boston Municipal Court on charges of unarmed
robbery, assault and battery, and a civil rights violation with injury, all in
connection with the incident early on the morning of July 20.
Assistant
District Attorney Jessica Erickson recommended $15,000 cash bail for Hayes and
$20,000 for Ruiz; Judge Mark Hart Summerville imposed $15,000 for both men.
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| Derek Ruiz |
“Transit Police
detectives did an outstanding job investigating this case,” Conley said. “Their
extensive efforts tracking the victim’s stolen phone made the difference in
identifying suspects in this cowardly, violent, shameful act.”
The incident
unfolded at about 5:40 on Saturday morning, when a Worcester man was charging
his iPhone at an outlet while waiting for a train at South Station. The man
reported that two young men taunted him about his clothing and used homophobic
slurs, to which he responded by asking them to leave him alone.
The two men
walked toward the main lobby but then returned and again engaged the victim
verbally before beginning to punch him. While they were beating him, the
assailants stole the victim’s phone before fleeing the station on foot.
Transit Police
responded to the scene and had the victim transported to Tufts Medical Center,
where he was treated for facial injuries. After interviewing him in person and
later by phone, Transit Police undertook efforts to identify the perpetrators
by reviewing surveillance images and locating the stolen phone.
Detectives first
called the victims phone and explained to the person who answered that they
were investigating the theft of a phone. In a voluntary interview, that man
said he buys and sells cell phones on Craigslist and that an unknown male had
contacted him in hopes of selling an iPhone. Police seized the stolen
phone and were able to obtain the phone number of the person who sold it to
him. Through further research, detectives then discovered that the
seller’s phone number was included as a contact number in another Craigslist ad
offering to buy and sell iPhones.
Investigators
then exchanged texts with the person who posted that ad, but did not identify
themselves as police officers. That person offered to purchase an iPhone and
some marijuana from the detectives at a Dunkin Donuts in Andrew Square. When he
met the detectives, he was in possession of more than an ounce of marijuana and
he was placed under arrest.
In a subsequent
interview, that man identified the person who sold him the stolen phone as
“Derek” and provided detectives with a phone number for “Derek.”
The phone number
came back to Ruiz, prosecutors said. Police viewed images of Ruiz on
Facebook and identified him as one of the subjects seen in surveillance images
they had retrieved from South Station. They also spotted one of Ruiz’s Facebook
friends, later identified as Hayes, in the surveillance footage.
During the
course of the investigation, police learned that the defendants worked at a bar
on High Street. Yesterday, Transit Police detectives brought surveillance
images depicting both assailants to staff at the bar and Blue Inc., a nearby
restaurant under the same management. Both Hayes and Ruiz were identified by
Blue Inc. staff as employees.
Hayes was
working in the restaurant’s kitchen at the time and agreed to speak with
police. He allegedly identified himself in the surveillance images
presented by police. After being read his Miranda rights, Hayes allegedly made
statements that he had left his job at midnight the night before the assault
and consumed alcohol as he waited for Ruiz to leave work. Hayes further
stated that the two had engaged in a physical altercation with the victim,
during which he punched the victim, prosecutors said.
Ruiz was not
working at the time and was apprehended by Transit Police detectives this
morning.
Hayes was
represented today by attorney Leonard Milligan. Ruiz was represented by
attorney William Roa. Both will return to court on Aug. 22.
--30--
On July 20, 2013 at approximately 5:40am a male victim was at MBTA South Station Commuter Rail, lobby area, waiting for his train to depart. While waiting, the victim was charging his cellular telephone. At this time two males walked passed and began to taunt the victim by hurling homophobic slurs directed at him without provocation. The victim attempted to ignore the males' taunting but they continued. Finally the victim requested he be left alone and both males appeared to have left the area. However approximately five minutes later they returned and set upon the victim punching him about his face. The attack rendered the victim dazed, bloodied and with a nasal fracture. During the attack the victim's cellular telephone was also stolen. The Victim was transported to Tufts Medical Center Emergency Room for treatment.
Subsequent to an investigation Transit Police detectives have identified and arrested
Colin Hayes, 21 of Quincy and
Derek Ruiz, 28 also of Quincy. Hayes and Ruiz were transported to Transit Police HQ for the arrest booking process and are expected to be arraigned sometime today at Boston Municipal Court-Central Division for Unarmed Robbery, Aggravated Assault & Battery and Civil Rights Violations with Injuries.
media inquiries should be directed to
tpdnews@mbta.com
tpdnews.
The events listed above are allegations; All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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