Man Charged in Ptown Hate Attack

A 23-year-old man faces hate-crime and assault charges in an alleged antigay attack against a woman in Provincetown, Mass., early Saturday morning, reports the Cape Cod Times.

By Julie Bolcer

A 23-year-old man faces hate-crime and assault charges in an alleged anti-gay attack against a woman in Provincetown, Mass., early Saturday morning, reports the Cape Cod Times .

Police say Eric Patten approached two women around 1 a.m. in front of the Post Office Café and Cabaret on Commercial Street, where he used a slur referring to gay men and pushed one of the women through a window, which broke. The women were treated for minor injuries.

An angry mob reportedly formed around Patten as he was being arrested, with many people furious about the disturbance at the normally idyllic vacation spot at the tip of Cape Cod.

Patten, a student at a New York college who was staying at his mother's house in nearby Truro over the weekend, apparently had been drinking. Authorities say he was evicted from the Vixen nightclub before the attack.

Patten is scheduled to be arraigned on felony assault and hate-crime charges in Orleans district court on Tuesday. He also faces charges of resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.

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Name: Roger Burr
Date posted: 5/26/2009 11:00:00 AM
Hometown: Marble Hill, MO

Comment:
Matt is probably right in describing this individual, but I'm sure he'll get more than a slap on the wrist. P-Town depends HEAVILY on income from LGBT visitors. The last thing they want is to develop a reputation for violence against the LGBT community. Moreover, this nut also assaulted a cop in the arresting process; so he'll get a good stint behind bars to reflect on his actions. Who knows, while there he might even find 'true love'; whether he wants it or not.
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Name: Matt
Date posted: 5/26/2009 10:23:00 AM
Hometown: Mexico City

Comment:
Meth-faced, spoiled-rotten rich kid. His family will get some hot-shot lawyer and he'll get off with a slap on the wrist.

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