BELMONT, Mass. — Tough words from Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan after an alleged hate crime in Belmont.
“We cannot and will not tolerate behavior that is rooted in racial bias,” said Ryan.
It was reportedly spawned by road rage, an incident that left 35-year-old Henry Tapia, of Boston, dead.
Tapia’s family came to the scene to see where he was run down by a pickup truck.
Dean Kapsalis, 54, of Hudson, appeared in court on Wednesday. He’s now facing several charges after prosecutors say he fled the scene Tuesday but later turned himself into police.
Ryan says the two men had some sort of altercation on Upland Road that ended with Kapsalis using a racial slur against Tapia.
Then Kapsalis allegedly hopped into his truck and aimed for Tapia.
“The defendant intentionally acted to strike the victim with his vehicle following a verbal exchange that included those racial slurs,” said Ryan.
Neighbors told Boston 25 they heard the truck engine revving up.
“We heard the tires squealing and the engine roaring,” said Sean Stromsten, who lives across the street.
They ran out to see Tapia on the ground writhing in pain. Brian Dawes says Tapia was in agony. “He said, ‘I’m in a lot of pain, I’m having a hard time breathing,” said Dawes.
People in this quiet neighborhood are stunned by what was said and how it ended.
“That’s just not the kind of thing you think of happening around here. It’s very sad,” said Stromsten.
Kapsalis is being held without bail until at least Monday. If convicted of the civil rights charge he could face an additional 10 years behind bars.
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