NEW BEDFORD — Four men surrounded and beat a Hispanic man on North Street about 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, police said.
The suspects — who included 23-year-old Derrick Blakney of New Bedford and three juveniles — were later arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, police said.
It is not clear why the man was attacked, said police. No robbery or robbery attempt took place and the group did not appear to be on drugs or to know the victim, said Capt. Joseph Cordeiro. The incident is still under investigation.
“It seems like a random beat-down,” he said. “There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason to this.”
According to police reports, the group punched the man in the face and later kicked him repeatedly. Shortly after, the man saw his assailants again at the bus station, where police responded and arrested them.
Adrian Ventura, the director of the Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores, an advocacy group for Mayans, said he believed the man was targeted because he is Mayan.
“They left him very well damaged,” said Ventura, who said he was at the bus station by chance at the time. “They didn’t even rob him.”
Police found the man with a swollen lip, blood stains throughout his clothing and multiple facial injuries, Cordeiro said.
