CHELSEA, MASS. (WHDH) - A Revere man was arrested after he allegedly swung a hammer at a group of African-American and Hispanic young men on Revere Beach Sunday.
According to state police, troopers were called to the area of Revere Beach near the Bandstand shortly before 4:30 p.m. for reports of a man swinging a hammer at beachgoers.
Preliminary investigation showed 24-year-old Gianpaolo Cerretani allegedly took a football from a young child. The group of young men then took the football from Cerretani and gave it back to the child.
Cerretani allegedly became enraged, and started swinging a hammer at the beachgoers. He also shouted racial slurs at them.
One of the young men, an 18-year-old Hispanic man from Lowell, was struck by the hammer. He suffered minor injuries.
The group of young men were able to take the hammer away from Cerretani and subdue him.
When police arrived, they arrested Cerretani, who was bleeding from cuts on his head. After he was handcuffed, he shouted another racial slur and obscenity at one of the young men.
Cerretani also shouted at troopers, calling one of them a “pig” and shouting, “I’ll take you too.”
Police took Cerretani to Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett, where he was treated for his injuries.
He also called an African-American security guard at the hospital a racial epithet.
Cerretani was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, civil rights violation, threats to commit a crime, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
The victim who was hit by the hammer refused medical transport. In addition to that victim, the rest of the group attacked by Cerretani consisted of several other men ranging in age from 16-20.
They are residents of Boston and Everett.
Cerretani was arraigned on Monday.
The arraignment was interrupted by Cerretani’s roommate, who was sitting in the audience and attempted to speak up on his behalf.
The roommate was taken into custody after outbursts in court. He is now also facing charges.
Cerretani remains held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing.
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