DETROIT (WXYZ) — A Jamaican immigrant was brutally beaten outside his Detroit home by his next door neighbor.
The assault landed Neville Chaplin, 65, in a hospital for more than a week. He said his attacker is a former friend who he had a long simmering dispute.
Chaplin said this is not the first time his attacker has struck him and his family continues to feel under siege in their own home. They moved to Detroit more than 20 years ago.
He said his attacker has been harassing his family for years and numerous calls to police have not put an end to his complaints.
Detroit police could not immediately confirm the number of calls to the home. However, the man was arrested after the most recent assault on Chaplin.
7 Action News cannot identify the man who was taken into custody because he has yet to be charge with a crime. However, authorities confirm he was set free days after the alleged assault.
A detective on the case made an error in the report and due to that mistake, the unidentified attacker was released. He was arrested again this week for the assault and put back in jail.
The Chaplin family believes the attack was a hate crime inspired by anti-immigrant sentiment. They're hoping to get a restraining order against the attacker.
7 Action News will continue following developments in this case.
