Newport Man Charged In Hammer Assault: Police

PORTSMOUTH, RI — A Newport man was arrested Saturday afternoon after police said he assaulted another man with a hammer. Luis Viruet was arrested by Middletown police after he was seen throwing away a hammer in a public trash can on East Main Road.

Middletown police said Viruet was dropped off around 11:15 a.m. and exited a black vehicle, which was stopped by police a little while later in Portsmouth. The driver, a 28-year-old woman, has a child with Viruet. Her boyfriend, 32, was sitting in the passenger seat, bleeding from a serious head injury. The Portsmouth Fire Department took him to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. His current condition was not released.

According to Portsmouth police, Viruet attacked the victim with a hammer at the woman's Portsmouth house. She told police that Viruet was acting violently before the attack and breaking items inside the house.

Viruet was charged with assault with a deadly weapon, domestic vandalism and domestic disorderly conduct.