Police in Antioch (in the San Francisco Bay Area of California) have in custody a man accused of beating and blinding in one eye a Latina worker at a fast food restaurant who was protecting a minor from harassment. .
After weeks of investigation, US Marshals arrested
Isaac White-Carter
, a 20-year-old from nearby Hayward Township, on charges of assault and grievous bodily harm, according to a local police statement.
The attack occurred on Saturday, November 12, at the Habit Burger Grill restaurant in Antioch, about 45 miles north of San Francisco.
Isaac White-Carter Antioch Police
The police found an employee who had received
several punches in the face
"after protecting a person with intellectual disabilities from being harassed," according to their statement.
"The woman lost her right eye because of the incident
," she added.
Bianca Palomera, 19, explained to NBC News that she was assaulted when she intervened to stop a man from harassing the minor with special needs, who was in the restaurant waiting for a relative to leave work.
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“He punched me once, and my headphones and glasses flew out of my face
,” Palomera recounted, “he was throwing threats and insults saying I was going to hit him, why did he keep looking his way.
That's when I stepped in and said,
'It's not right what you're doing
. '
Bianca Palomera, 19. NBC News Bay Area
In a video of the incident you can see a group of four men.
One of them corners the young woman against the wall and punches her.
Palomera defends herself but the suspect continues to hit her.
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The restaurant said in a statement: “We condemn violence in any form.
We extend our full support to our team member as she recovers and are fully assisting authorities in their efforts to identify the suspected attackers."
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“I really don't know what to think.
I think I'm still processing it,” Palomera said, “this is the last thing I would have expected.
I do not regret having helped,
having intervened.
It could have been worse for my co-worker's brother."
Police expressed their “support and gratitude to the victim for helping a community member in need,” according to the statement.
