U.S.

Man arrested for calling Sikh man a "terrorist" and running him down

/ CBS/AP

NEW YORK - Police have arrested a 55-year-old New York man on charges he called a Sikh man a terrorist and mowed him down with his pickup truck.

The encounter happened July 30 in the Queens borough of New York. Sandeep Singh was treated for abdominal and back injuries.

The New York Post reports that Joseph Caleca and Singh exchanged words because Singh's car door was blocking the street.

Police say Caleca called 29-year-old Singh a terrorist before hitting him with his truck. Police say Caleca then accelerated, hit Singh and dragged him several feet before fleeing.

"I was attacked because I am a Sikh, and because I look like a Sikh," Singh, who is originally from India, said in a statement. "We need to create a world without hate."

Caleca was arrested late Monday on charges of attempted murder as a hate crime and assault as a hate crime. No information on a lawyer for him was available.

First published on August 19, 2014 / 4:50 PM EDT

© 2014 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

f

We and our partners use cookies to understand how you use our site, improve your experience and serve you personalized content and advertising. Read about how we use cookies in our cookie policy and how you can control them by clicking Manage Settings. By continuing to use this site, you accept these cookies.