Brockton Man Accused Of Attacking Disabled College Student On MBTA Red Line
BOSTON (CBS) – Surveillance cameras are being credited for helping catch a Brockton man accused of attacking a man who suffers from cerebral palsy on an MBTA train.
Thomas Kennedy, 62, was arraigned in South Boston Municipal Court on Thursday.
He's charged with assault and battery on a disabled person, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and a civil rights violation.
According to prosecutors, the victim, a 21-year-old college student, had boarded a Red Line train on Tuesday afternoon at Downtown Crossing and sat down next to Kennedy.
Kennedy reportedly reeked of alcohol and allegedly made derogatory comments about the victim's disability. Kennedy is also alleged to have used ethnic and homophobic slurs.
The victim eventually moved seats, but police say Kennedy continued yelling at him and eventually punched and kicked him.
Police say the victim managed to get off the train at JFK/UMass, and was taken to Boston Medical Center with injuries.
The victim was able to give police a description of his attacker, and was later able to point out Kennedy on MBTA surveillance footage.
Transit Police officers on the lookout for Kennedy later spotted him at Downtown Crossing and arrested him.
The judge set bail at $5,000 and ordered Kennedy to remain alcohol free, submit to an alcohol evaluation and undergo any necessary treatment, and to stay away from the MBTA.
He also revoked Kennedy's bail in a previous case.
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