A Danbury man tattooed with "White Power" and swastika symbols has been charged with hate crimes after police said he assaulted an African American man who was talking on his cell phone Saturday night.
Paul Arbitelle, 37, of Danbury, was walking down the street shortly after 9 p.m. on Friday when he approached the victim and began to fight him, police said.
Police said the victim and his two friends fought Arbitelle back and then went home.
When officers arrived, Arbitelle was shouting racial slurs and threats and trying to get into the home, police said, then he fought with officers who took him into custody.
While processing Arbitelle, police found several tattoos, including "White Power" and swastika symbols and he continued with racial slurs as he was processed and also threatened to shoot the police officers, police said.
Arbitelle was charged with breach of peace, third-degree assault, second-degree threatening, interfering with a police officer, deprivation of rights based on race and intimidation based on race and bigotry.
He was currently being held on a $25,000 bond.
