Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey says he will file a civil rights complaint against a Portland man for an attack on an Asian-American woman and her 12-year-old daughter on March 15.
The complaint against Troy Sprague seeks an order protecting the woman and her family by prohibiting Sprague from having any contact with them and from violating the Maine Civil Rights Act in the future.
According to the complaint, the woman and her daughter were in their car waiting for an oil service when Sprague walked by, turned and started swearing at the woman, telling her to “go back to your country.”
Sprague then allegedly jumped over a guard rail at the service station and began kicking the woman’s partially open window. According to the complaint, the woman’s rearview mirror was damaged, causing debris to fly into the car and hit her daughter.
Frey said in a statement that the nation is bearing witness to an unconscionable increase in hate crimes against people of Asian descent.
“We will not tolerate such attacks in Maine and we will act swiftly to address allegations like those received last week out of Portland,” he said.
He encouraged members of Maine’s Asian-American community to contact their local law enforcement agency if they encounter threats or acts of violence or property damage based on bias against their race, ancestry or national origin as covered under the Maine Civil Rights Act.
A violation of an injunctive order under the act is a Class D crime, punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a $2,000 fine.
Sprague was arrested by the Portland Police Department and charged with criminal mischief and interfering with constitutional and civil rights. He has been released on bail.
