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George Sommers, who has no fixed address, was arrested over the weekend following an altercation with another man that rapidly escalated in the 3300 block of M Street NW, officials say.
According to investigators, on Friday afternoon, the two got into a verbal dispute that ramped up when Sommers allegedly assaulted the victim and fled the scene.
During the incident, police say that "he made derogatory comments toward the victim based on race."
The victim was treated by DC Fire and EMS personnel for non-life-threatening injuries.
Sommers was arrested the day after the assault and charged with aggravated assault.
"The Metropolitan Police Department is investigating this offense as being potentially motivated by hate or bias," officials said. "The designation can be changed at any point as an investigation proceeds and more information is gathered.
"A designation as a hate crime by MPD does not mean that prosecutors will prosecute it as a hate crime."
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