Gay Couple Assaulted, Subjected To Anti-LGBTQ Slurs Outside Their Bar Allege Police 'Mishandled' The Case

A gay couple from Norwalk, Connecticut, called out the city's police department for neglect after being violently attacked at the end of September.

In a statement issued Tuesday on the business' website, Casey Fitzpatrick said the "violent assault is being mishandled by the Norwalk Police Department and the City of Norwalk."

Fitzpatrick and his husband, Nicholas Ruiz, were assaulted outside their bar – Troupe429 – on Sept. 23, which they believe was a hate crime, Yahoo News reported. Fitzpatrick said the suspect spewed anti-LGBTQ slurs at them, and tore a cross necklace from Ruiz's neck.

In response to the statement, the Norwalk Police Department said Wednesday they arrested the suspect earlier in the day, but couldn't find evidence to establish that the attack was fueled by racial or anti-LGBTQ bias.

"The arrest follows the Police Department's warrant issued by a judge, after completing investigative steps of reviewing of video footage from inside the bar and attempting to get sworn statements from the two victims," Lt. Terrence Blake, the Norwalk Police Department's public information officer and LGBTQ liaison, said in a statement to NBC News. The suspect was identified as Carmen Everett Parisi.

"Video footage from the body-worn, on-the-scene body cameras show no findings of any racial, religious, ethnic, or sexual orientation (RRES) language or indication of any anti-LGBTQ motivation associated with the assault," Blake said.

Fitzpatrick, in his statement, accused the Norwalk PD of inaction, despite providing video footage, a transcript, and their medical records. He said the police department had zero updates for him, every time he visits them for a follow-up, further adding the cops have not bothered to contact eyewitnesses, who were present at the bar that night.

The attack happened on the night the bar hosted a drag show. Fitzpatrick added the suspect "repeatedly harassed and made several female patrons and our staff uncomfortable."

He was respectfully escorted outside the venue to ensure safety of other patrons and staff inside the venue. The suspect refused to leave and created a scene outside. Ruiz arrived to wane off the situation as the suspect continued to hurl derogatory and anti-LGBTQ slurs at the bar and people who frequent it.

The verbal tantrum turned physical, and the suspect, "punched Nicholas repeatedly, clawed at his chest, tore the cross necklace from his neck, and ripped his clothes."

He then attacked Fitzpatrick for a while before turning toward Ruiz and repeatedly punching the right side of his face. Ruiz needed a trip to the emergency room where he was given 50 stitches on his face and needed $20,000 worth of plastic surgery.

Fitzpatrick said the brawler was handcuffed outside the venue and taken to the hospital for a pre-existing medical condition in the police van. However, he wasn't arrested.