Mass. man arraigned on hate crime charges after attack

A Lynn man was arraigned on charges in connection with an attack in Revere this weekend in which he told the American victim and his friends to “go back to [their] country,” prosecutors said.

Jason Collura, 28, was arraigned in Chelsea District Court this week on assault and battery to intimidate, disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace and civil rights violation charges.

Officers said they responded to a fight reported near 1 Orr Sq., where they found Collura and another man fighting in the middle of the street. Witnesses told officers they should remove Collura from the scene, according to a statement from the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

The victim told police he was walking on the beach with two friends when Collura approached and asked the group where they were from. When the victim responded, “America,” Collura allegedly replied that group wasn’t “from here” and to “go back to [their] country.”

Collura then attacked the victim, leaving red marks on the man’s neck, prosecutors said. A witness used his or her cell phone to record the fighting.

Police said they noticed the scent of alcohol on Collura, as well as a sway in his step and a wet spot on the crotch of his pants. Officers also recovered a bottle of white pills that witnesses told them fell from Collura’s pocket during the altercation.

Authorities also said Collura was belligerent when placed under arrest, making threatening comments to police and, at one point, spitting on an officer.

Judge Matthew Nestor set bail at $2,500, imposed the stay away order requested by prosecutors and revoked Collura’s open bail in another case out of Boston Municipal Court, involving a charge of larceny from a person.