MIDDLETOWN, Conn. — The owner of J. Martin Landscaping spoke out after a now-viral video showed him and his brother being verbally attacked by a Middletown couple while on the job. That couple has been criminally charged.
They have been identified as Robert Shaw, 62, and Sharon Bourgeois-Williams of Middletown.
It was Sunday morning when Jose Martin and his brother arrived at a home on Frisbie Street to do landscaping work.
"It was like a normal day for us," said Martin, owner of J. Martin Landscaping.
Things took a turn for the worse in the afternoon. A video showed a couple from two houses down suddenly approaching Martin and his brother in an aggressive manner.
"She started cursing at me. As soon as I saw that, I pulled out my phone," added Martin.
The video showed Shaw also pulling out his phone to record as he complained of the noise from the landscaping equipment. The couple continued to berate Martin and his brother in the video that has since exploded on social media.
Minutes later, the couple was heard asking Martin and his brother if they had work visas and their immigration status.
"They said ‘Oh that’s why we need the border to take these clowns out of here’," added Martin.
Martin told FOX61 this is a moment he will never forget.
"It made me feel super bad because discrimination like that is not tolerated because no matter who you are or what country you are, nobody deserves to be discriminated the way they discriminated us," added Martin.
FOX61 approached the couple's home and tried to get a comment. Shaw opened the door and then closed it.
Further investigation led to a warrant for the couple's arrest. Both turned themselves in Thursday evening and have been charged with disorderly conduct.
"We got to respect each other. No matter what country or color you are. We’re all human beings," added Martin.
Middletown Mayor Ben Florsheim posted a statement on Facebook in reaction to the incident:
"Like many of you I was horrified to see the video making the rounds on Facebook of José Martín and his staff being barraged with insults and racist remarks by two people who live in Middletown.
Let me be clear, we don't tolerate this type of behavior in Middletown and it doesn't represent who we work to be as a community.
My staff has reached out to Mr. Martin to offer our apologies for the way he was treated while working in our City. We never want anyone to think what you saw on that video is what you get when you come to Middletown.
I've also been in touch with our PD to see what, if any, action can be taken against the couple seen hurling insults and slurs at Mr. Martin and his employee.
To everyone who has seen the video and been affected by the behavior captured within, I'm sorry that you anyone was treated this way and that so many had to witness it. We strive to do better in Middletown and know that it's a constant work in progress. Please know that we are always working to be better."
The couple was released on a $10,000 bond and are expected to appear in court later this month.
Carmen Chau is an anchor and reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at cchau@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook and X.
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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