GRAND ISLAND, N.Y. — A Grand Island man is facing charges following an incident at a local bar.
Charles Vacanti, 46, was arrested following an assault complaint on March 19.
Erie County Sheriff John Garcia said Vacanti was charged with a hate crime because he yelled racial slurs at an Asian-American woman, before striking her with a pool cue. He added that the incident happened at San-Dees Pub on Grand Island around 4 a.m.
Garcia said five witnesses saw what happened and have helped put together a "good case" for the Erie County District Attorney's Office. The Sheriff said the witnesses also reported seeing Vacanti run off after hitting the woman.
Garcia said the woman is 5 feet tall, while Vacanti is 5 feet, 7 inches, and weighs 270 pounds. He didn't tell 2 On Your Side the extent of her injuries but said that the size discrepancy should give people an idea of how severe they were.
"They did not know each other. Now how they came about the altercation, that's something I'd rather not comment on right now. What I could tell you is prior to the defendant striking the victim, he did use some racial slurs and then struck the victim," Garcia said.
He added that the victim, who is from Tonawanda, was treated for her injuries and is not currently in the hospital. Garcia said alcohol was possibly a factor and added that deputies don't know whether each of the two came to the bar alone or with a group of people.
Vacanti was arrested on Wednesday, April 20, almost exactly a month after the incident occurred. He was charged with one count of felony assault with intent to cause injury with a weapon as a hate crime, as well as one count of criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use.
Vacant was arraigned Thursday evening in Grand Island Town Court. His family was there to show their support and said the actions described by Sheriff Garcia do not match the man they know.
"He's a great kid, he's a hard worker he wasn't raised to be nasty, and from what I understand he defended himself against this woman," said Vacanti's father of the same name.
His girlfriend Julie Mackellar said she was surprised to hear about the incident. Neither she nor Vacanti's father was at the pub, on the morning it allegedly occurred.
"I would not be with somebody for 17 years if he wasn't a kind loving gentleman he's not a hater, he's a lover, he will defend himself 100 percent no which way shape, or form," said Mackellar.
During a press conference, Garcia called Vacanti's alleged actions reprehensible.