Charged with bias intimidation and harassment

A woman was arrested early Wednesday and charged with trying to rip the turban off a Sikh man's head in a Washington Street bar.

"I went to the bar to place an order, and I realized that someone was trying to get my turban off my head," said 38-year-old Hansdip Singh Bindra, of Union City.

Bindra was reportedly at Madison Bar and Grill with a co-worker just after midnight.

"You're out for an evening with colleagues and this is the last thing you'd expect," he said.

Clutching the turban, which was nearly off, Bindra said he asked the woman if there was a problem.

Thirty-seven year-old Carrie Covello allegedly told Bindra to take off the turban because she "didn't like it."

Bindra says he alerted the bouncer, who called police. Covello was subsequently arrested.

At the precinct, police say Covello admitted touching the turban, but told cops she was only joking and didn't mean anything by it

Covello was charged with bias intimidation and harassment, which can lead to penalties ranging from probation to up to 18 months prison. [Link]