Both Sides Pointing Fingers In Manchester Racial Incident

MANCHESTER, CT — Both sides of a racially charged encounter in Manchester between two white men in their 20s in a sport utility vehicle and three black teens on bicycles are pointing fingers in terms of who started it, court records show. One of the men, though, had already been facing charges for an incident last month.

According to an initial arrest report, at about 1:30 a.m. Sunday, officers responded to the area of 364 Main St. after receiving a report about a driver who attempted to strike a bicyclist, along with a complaint about the theft of a bicycle from a pedestrian.

When officers arrived in the area, they located three boys who reported that, while they were riding their bicycles, a vehicle occupied by two men began following them, according to a report.

Police were told by the boys that the vehicle "ran them off the roadway" in the area of Main Street and Middle Turnpike East, while almost striking one of them, according to a report.

It was also reported to police that one of the suspects, who had yelled racial slurs, exited the vehicle, ran after the juveniles, and took a bicycle that had been dropped when the juveniles ran, according to a report.

No injuries were reported.

The "suspect vehicle" was located in the driveway of 364 Main St. and officers attempted to make contact with the occupants of the residence, a report says. After knocking and announcing their presence for a period of time, olice located no one, according to a report.

Warrants were then granted for the arrests of the two suspects — 27-year-old Matthew Lemelin and 28-year-old Michael Lemelin, both of Manchester. They were taken into custody Monday afternoon.

Matthew Lemelin was charged with:

• Second-degree intimidation based on bigotry or bias
• Risk of injury to minor
• Second-degree reckless endangerment
• Second-degree breach of peace
• Sixth-degree larceny
• Thirs-degree criminal mischief

Matthew Lemelin was being held on a $150,000 bond Monday and was scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 18, police said.
Michael Lemelin was charged with:

• Risk of injury to minor
• Second-degree reckless endangerment
• Second-degree breach of peace

The booking images of Matthew (left) and Michael Lemlin. (Manchester Police)

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According to court documents:

• Matthew Lemelin said one of the three boys threw something at him as they rode by on bicycles and all three yelled a racial slur
• Matthew Lemelin said he responded with an expletive and a racial slur
• The three teenage boys told police they were riding their bicycles on Main Street at about 1:30 a.m. (a family member told the Hartford Courant they were out looking to purchase diapers for the family) and a man cursed at them and yelled a slur as they passed
• The teenagers said the vehicle driven by the man and another man began driving toward them at the intersection of Main Street and Middle Turnpike
• The teens said the driver then sped toward them and nearly hit one of them.
• A witness termed the incident a near miss
• The teens clamed one of the men exited the vehicle and chased them
• The teens said the man grabbed a bicycle after one of them abandoned it while fleeing
• The teens said man then rode the bike back up Main Street
• Michael Lemelin said his brother had asked him for a ride to a store in town, but the store was closed
• Michael Lemelin said the encounter took place when they were returning home
• Michael Lemelin told investigators that Matthew Lemelin had been consuming beer
• People outside a Cumberland Farms identified then men and said then frequently yell the 'white lives matter slogan

Judicial system records show that, on May 25, Manchester police arrested Matthew Lemelin on charges that include carrying a dangerous weapon, interfering with police, second-degree criminal mischief (two counts) and second-degree breach of peace. He was released on a promise to appear in court on Aug. 25.

For the incident with the teens, as of Thursday morning, Matthew Lemelin was being held on a $10,000 bond, and Michael Lemelin was being held on a $5,000 bond with Aug. 25 court dates.

The names of juveniles are exempt from disclosure, per state law. No charges have been filed against the boys.