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Man with disabilities assaulted by neighbor with belt buckle
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Posted on Dec 19 2005
A man with disabilities was injured when his neighbor assaulted him with a belt buckle outside his residence in Upper Dandan Homestead over the weekend, police said.
The victim suffered injuries to the head. He was treated at the Commonwealth Health Center and later released.
Michail Castro Diaz, 40, was arrested for assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
During yesterday’s bail hearing, Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Naraja imposed a $10,000 cash bail for Diaz’s temporary liberty.
Naraja set the preliminary hearing for Dec. 23 at 9am.
Police said Diaz came out from his house, went to the road, and asked the victim to “try” him while swinging a belt buckle.
The victim was standing on his property being held back by his wife and daughter, according to a detective in documents filed in court.
Diaz then allegedly charged the victim and pushed his daughter. He kept on swinging his belt buckle, but failed to hit the victim.
The victim, however, lost his balance and was about to fall after losing hold of his cane, but his wife and daughter managed to hold him up.
Diaz rushed again and swung the belt, hitting the victim on the head, the detective said.
The suspect then fled.
Two police officers arrived. One officer blocked Diaz’s vehicle along the driveway.
The officer instructed the suspect to get down from the vehicle.
Diaz got down and pushed the officer back, saying “Officer, I hit him on the head with my belt buckle for self defense because he had a knife too.”
Police placed the defendant under arrest.
Investigators recovered a small pocketknife at the scene.
The victim told police that he had a boat accident several years ago and had to undergo a back surgery. He said he is currently disabled.
