A white New York couple was arrested after being on the run following an attack on a Black hotel employee in Connecticut.
According to NBC News, Philip Sarner and Emily Orbay were extradited back to Connecticut on Monday (July 13). They are accused of attacking Crystal Caldwell, a Black hotel employee, during their stay at a Quality Inn. The couple reportedly approached her after complaining about the temperature of the water in their hotel room.
Sarner and Orbay were then seen on hotel surveillance punching, kicking and throwing Caldwell to the ground. After the attack, the pair walked off as other people come to help the victim. Caldwell sustained a concussion as well as injuries to her eye, back and knees.
REVOLT previously reported that the couple would be facing hate crime charges for the attack. Orbay faces third-degree assault and intimidation based on bigotry and bias. Sarner faces charges of second-degree assault, third-degree assault and intimidation based on bigotry and bias
Police received two 911 calls the night of the assault. The first one came from a colleague of Caldwell. The caller told the dispatcher that a guest was “beating up on my desk clerk” and “he is smacking my desk clerk around.” Another person is heard in the background of the call saying, “I want him arrested now.”
A second call came from one of the suspects. “I was just assaulted by staff,” the man said. The dispatcher asked, “How did they assault you?” He replied, “Punching my head. It’s on camera.” After the attack, the suspects and the victim went to the hospital for medical assistance, but the couple later returned to the hotel to get their stuff and left the state.
Sarner and Orbay were released early Tuesday (July 14) after paying their bonds of $75,000 and $50,000. Their next court date will be on July 29. Watch the video of the attack below.