A fire captain in Bentonville, ARK faces third degree assault charges in the racially motivated attack on an Asian American man, reports KATV.
Authorities say Capt. Benjamin Snodgrass attacked Liem Nguyen on March 13 outside Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs.
Nguyen told police Snodgrass came up to him and asked if he knew this was America. Snodgrass is accused of then pushing Nguyen and the two men fell to the ground. Nguyen said he punched Snodgrass in self defense and that the captain punched back.
According to 4029 TV, Snodgrass described himself as “hammered.” He also faces a public intoxication charge.
“The City of Bentonville does not condone or tolerate any form of discrimination or violence,” Mayor Stephanie Orman told 4029 in an email. “In fact, we have worked hard with the formation of a DEI task force both, in the community and internally as a staff, to make sure that everyone has a voice, they are heard, and feel welcome and protected in our community. We will continue our work to make Bentonville an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment for all.”
KATV reports that officers quoted Snodgrass as saying “, “I don’t know guys, I’m hammered…I don’t know man, they are pumping gasses into this place and something is not right.”
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