Man accused of assaulting, calling man homophobic slur on Johnston bike path faces judge

JOHNSTON, R.I. (WLNE) — The man accused of slamming an unsuspecting jogger to the ground on a path in Johnston and then hurling a homophobic slur at him was in front of a judge Friday.

40-year-old Dana Mauch pled not guilty to charges of assault, larceny, and disorderly conduct.

The jogger, 28-year-old Isaac Rubenstein, posted about the incident on TikTok, where he alleged that Mauch knocked him down on the Woonasquatucket bike path, stole his hat, and called him an anti-gay slur.

Police arrested after spotting him wearing the same jacket described by Rubenstein.

“I’m not the one using social media to build up my cause or abuse the justice system,” Mauch said in front of the judge.

His bail was set at $2,000 and he was ordered to stay away from the victim.

Mauch’s next court date is Feb. 14.