Motive for Potsdam attack unknown

POTSDAM — Days after being beaten by a trio of unknown assailants, one allegedly wielding a piece of lumber, Paul P. Matott is still wondering why he was attacked.

Mr. Matott was back in Potsdam on Monday after being taken to Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington, Vt., where he was treated for a fractured jaw and other injuries. He was attacked about 8:45 p.m. Friday as he walked from a tattoo parlor on Market Street in Potsdam to his home on Hamilton Street.

"The first kid started to mace me and I went to grab the canister, that's when I got hit in the face by a piece of wood," Mr. Matott said. "I tried to swing my laptop at them, but I don't think I hit anyone. I went down and they just kept punching me in the face."

Mr. Matott, who had $1,300 in cash in his pocket at the time, said the assailants didn't try to take his wallet or computer and said nothing to him during the attack. He also said he's not sure if he was singled out because of the way he looks.

Mr. Matott, who works as a piercer at the Sleepy Hollow tattoo shop, has an elaborate tattoo that he said is similar to those worn by some indigenous Maori people of New Zealand covering most of his face.

"They definitely hated me, whoever it was. No doubt about that," Mr. Matott said. "But I don't think it was the tattoos per se. Maybe it was some kind of dare."

He said he didn't get a good look at any of the attackers, but describes them as young. He said the person with the mace or pepper spray can seemed scared and had a shaking hand.

"While they were beating me they never said a word. They just kept hitting me. There was no communication at all," he said.

The attack ended when he heard a woman's voice hollering from the nearby parking lot. He said he believes if not for that intervention, he might have been killed.

"I heard a voice yelling, 'Stop, you can't do that to him,'" Mr. Matott said. "I was helpless at that point."

He said the attackers immediately stopped beating him, jumped into a vehicle and sped away.

Although he doesn't know why he was attacked, Mr. Matott is convinced he was deliberately singled out and that the assailant's knew who he was and the route he walks home every day.

"I don't know what motivates somebody to do something like this," he said. "But I am definitely affected by what happened, emotionally and physically. It won't go away easy."

Mr. Matott said he hopes the attackers are found and brought to justice so they won't be emboldened and carry out similar beatings against others in the future.

Mary L. Robinson, owner of the tattoo parlor where Mr. Matott works, said she is distraught over the incident. She is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

She described Mr. Matott as a kind, hardworking employee who hasn't missed a day of work in two years.

Mrs. Robinson said she was unsure if the attack should be labeled as a "hate-based crime."

"I hope not. But I can't discount it," she said. "There are still prejudices against people with tattoos, but I wouldn't think so in Potsdam."

Potsdam police Lt. Edward F. Tischler said it appears Mr. Matott was singled out, although he doesn't believe the attack was related to his appearance.

"I'm not leaning toward that," Mr. Tischler said. "For some reason he was singled out. They weren't just waiting to jump on anybody. They were waiting for him. But I don't think it was because of his appearance."

Mr. Tischler said there have been no other similar attacks in Potsdam recently.

Police are continuing to search for the three assailants. Mr. Matott has described one of his attackers as about 5-feet-9-inches tall, wearing a gray hoodie. Witnesses told police officers the assailants were seen leaving in a dark red, midsize sport utility vehicle on Bay Street.

Anyone with information can call Potsdam village police at 265-2121.