Charges Brought Against Teens in P-Town Alleged Homophobic Harassment Incident

Two Massachusetts teens and a minor have been charged in a case of alleged homophobic harassment that took place in the LGBTQ+ destination of Provincetown.

As previously reported, the three suspects were apprehended earlier this week after reports that people in a car were blaring air horns and hurling homophobic slurs.

A release from the Provincetown Police Department detailed that "Ryan Mahimtura, 19, of Framingham, MA, Henry Ward, 19, of Hudson MA, and a minor of Hudson, MA have all been charged with two counts of Disorderly Conduct in relation to the incident that took place in Provincetown on July 1st where they allegedly drove through town threateningly with air horns yelling homophobic slurs from their vehicle at several people."

"Mahimutura, Ward and the minor may face further charges, police said," Masslive reported.

"It is unclear whether these could be in connection with an alleged assault on June 30 – the last day of Pride month – that police previously said they were investigating as a possible hate crime," the report added.

In that incident, three slur-hurling men allegedly emerged from a car with a Trump bumper sticker and attacked a lone victim who was walking back to where he was staying in the pre-dawn hours of last Monday morning.

NBC News detailed, "The victim described the car as a black Lexus sedan, and described the attackers as three men ages 20 to 30."

Describing the terrifying ordeal to NBC Boston, alleged victim Chris Kostka said, "All of a sudden I just feel myself getting pushed to the ground. I fly forward and I turn I see three guys and of course, I'm stunned from just being thrown to the pavement and I just cover my face, go into a fetal position as I'm getting kicked and getting called some gay slurs."

With facial lacerations visible on camera, Kostka said the men who beat him were wearing "jeans and T-shirts," with one of the alleged assailants wearing "a black cap".

Kostka took note of the vehicle the attackers got into after they beat him – and of the Trump bumper sticker he says the car sported, NBC Boston relayed.

"I was just in, like, shock," Kostka told the news channel. "You let your guard down because it's such a happy place for everyone. It's so safe, and you just don't expect that."

"Provincetown police are asking Bradford Street residents to check doorbell and security video recorded between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on June 30 to see if it may have captured the suspects involved in the attack," the Masslive article relayed.

"Investigators encourage anyone with information about the incident to contact Provincetown Det. Sgt. Jennifer Nolette at 508-487-1212 or [email protected]."

Town manager Alex Morse posted a Facebook message in which he noted, "This event shows why it's important to report information immediately to police."

Added Morse: "Our Police Department's quick response should serve as a warning to those who come here to cause harm that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in Provincetown."

Morse's post advised the public that the city is "organizing a Community Safety Forum next Tuesday, July 8th in the Auditorium at Town Hall where we can come together, provide updates related to these incidents, share safety tips, and have a community discussion about how to protect ourselves and each other."

Morse went on to assure the public that "We will – as generations before us have – come together, protect one another, and ensure that Provincetown remains a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community and everyone who lives and visits here."