Jamaica Plain Woman Arrested in Downtown Crossing Beat-down of Disabled Person

A Jamaica Plain woman has been arrested in the beating of a disabled man, according to Transit Police.

T police say the incident took place early Sunday morning on the Forest Hills-bound Orange Line platform at Downtown Crossing.

A 40-year-old disabled man suffered "obvious injuries, lacerations and swelling to his face and torso areas," after being set upon by men accompanying a woman, Transit Police said. The woman had gotten into a verbal dispute with the victim, who was punched and kicked repeatedly.

The assailants left before police got there, but Transit Police later arrested Karen Akiba, 22, of Cambridge and Bryon Lashus, 32, of Watertown. They were charged with assault and battery on a disabled person and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

When those two were in court Monday, detectives said they saw Jamaica Plain's Maryanne Hamilton, 29, in the hallway with the defendants. She was also arrested and faces the same charges.

"There is no logical reason why the victim in this case was assaulted," said Transit Police Superintendent-in Chief Joseph O'Connor in a Transit Police blog entry. "The quick apprehension of the suspects is another example of the excellent work of our detectives."

The investigation is ongoing, Transit Police say.