DETROIT – A 16-year-old boy has been charged with assault and a hate crime in the beating of a man who was attacked after accidentally striking another boy with his pickup truck.
The black teen is charged as a juvenile. Others have been arrested in the beating of Steve Utash, but it's the first ethnic intimidation charge in the case. Utash is white.
The Wayne County prosecutor's office announced the charges Thursday. The 16-year-old will appear Saturday in Juvenile Court.
Utash, a tree trimmer from Macomb County, was driving a pickup last week when a 10-year-old boy suddenly stepped into the path of the vehicle. Utash was attacked after stopping to help the boy.
He suffered life-threatening injuries. A prayer service is planned for Thursday night at a Detroit church.
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