Today, Deschutes County District Attorney John Hummel filed charges against two people based on the allegation they attacked a Good Samaritan who was helping a person with a disability.
Stephen Davies and Spencer Perez, both 24 year-old residents of Bend, were charged with Assault in the Third Degree, Attempted Assault in the Second Degree, and Unlawful Use of a Stun Gun.
The state alleges that on the night of July 4th Brandon Deluca and his neighbors and family were outside watching fireworks on NE Kearney Avenue in Bend. Deluca saw a car almost strike one of his neighbors who has a disability. Two people then got out of the car and verbally insulted and harassed the person who was almost struck. Deluca approached his neighbor to assist him at which point the two passengers violently assaulted him, punching him repeatedly and shocking him twice with a stun gun. The assailants then fled.
On July 11th Bend Police Officers located and arrested both suspects.
“All criminal assaults are wrong and warrant punishment,” said Hummel. “But not all assaults are equal. If the state proves these suspects assaulted Mr. Deluca because he intervened to aid a person with a disability we will ask the court to impose a punishment appropriate for such a heartless and cowardly act.”
The case will be presented this week to a Deschutes County Grand Jury for their consideration. Davies and Perez are presumed innocent and have the opportunity to contest these allegations starting at their next court hearing. Davies will be in court on July 19, 2017 at 1:30 and Perez on July 13, 2017 at 1:30.
