NORTH SMITHFIELD – The man accused of attacking a teenaged staff member at the Dowling Village Walmart for asking him to put a mask on his daughter was arrested on Wednesday, April 21 by North Smithfield police.
Michael Caro, 34, has been charged with assault and disorderly conduct following the incident, which took place inside the store on Tuesday, April 20.
According to 16-year-old victim Hunter Shaw, who spoke with NRI NOW earlier this week, the worker was stocking toys when he spotted Caro with his roughly 3-year-old daughter, and politely asked that the child wear a face covering in the store.
Shaw is the son of North Smithfield native and Cumberland Town Councilor Robert Shaw, who also spoke with NRI NOW about the incident.
According to a police report released Friday, the pair had a brief confrontation and Shaw walked away laughing, saying he was going to get a store manager. Caro then attacked Shaw, according to the victim, choking and punching him – a story backed up by a release from the North Smithfield Police Department on the incident.
Shaw reportedly had visible bruises following the fight but did not seek medical treatment.
Police later received an anonymous tip regarding Caro’s identity.
Caro was released with a Third District Court summons.
Editor’s note: The above article originally stated the toddler’s gender as male. We apologize for the error.
