Accusation of racist attack on hotel clerk in Mystic prompts investigation
Stonington orders independent review of alleged assault of Black employee by white couple
The town of Stonington has retained an independent investigator to review the town police department’s handling of an alleged assault of a Black hotel employee by a white couple last month, first selectman Danielle Chesebrough announced Friday in a Facebook post.
The post said that Chief Darren Stewart, with support from the Police Commission, requested an external review, and an independent firm has been hired to look into this specific case as well as the Stonington Police Department Policies and Procedures.
“The decision to conduct an external review was made in partnership in order to ensure that our community retains the confidence in our officers that they need to carry out the important work they do every day,” Chesebrough said in the post, adding that the review’s conclusions will be shared with the public.
The couple, Philip Sarner and Emily Orbay of Nassau County, N.Y., are accused of using racial slurs and physically assaulting an employee, Crystal Caldwell, at the Quality Inn on Whitehall Avenue in Mystic on June 26. They were charged on July 1 by the New London State’s Attorney’s Office, Sarner with assault in the second degree and Orbay with assault in the third degree.
Caldwell’s attorney told The Courant that after complaining about a lack of hot water, Sarner became belligerent before both pushed their way through hotel employees toward Caldwell, calling her a “monkey” and assaulting her. Caldwell said she has been diagnosed with a concussion and has injuries to her eye, face, wrist, knee and back.
“I can’t sleep. I see the vision of his foot coming toward my face. I feel I could not be here right now,” Caldwell told The Courant. “I’m a praying woman, so I pray and talk to God a lot to try to get me through this safely.”
Though Stonington officers responded to the scene, Sarner and Orbay were transported to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital after reporting injuries and thereafter returned to the hotel to gather their belongings. They left for New York before they could be arrested and remain at large. Stonington police have asked the public for help in locating them.
Caldwell and her attorney had previously criticized the delay in charging the couple. The police department said they wanted to wait until they had an “ironclad” case. Capt. Todd Olson told The Courant that Lawrence + Memorial staff did not allow police inside when the couple was hospitalized due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The alleged racist attack and the police department’s response have garnered public scrutiny over the last few weeks, with a rally calling for justice for Caldwell held Sunday afternoon in front of the Stonington Police Department.