Perinton man under arrest for "unprovoked" beating of elderly man at Fairport gas station

A Perinton man is accused of beating an 82-year-old man at a Fairport gas station early Thursday in what police say was an "unprovoked and random violent act."

According to police, Robert E. Sayer, Jr., 28, of Alpine Knoll, attacked the victim around 8:50 a.m. as the man pumped gas at a service station near the village four corners. The beating left the victim with multiple facial fractures, including around his eyes and his nose. Sayer also stole the victim's gas can.

The victim "didn't even see his attacker," said Police Chief Samuel A. Farina, Jr. "He was blindsided. This was just unprovoked."

In spontaneous statements to police, Farina said, Sayer said he attacked the man "because he thought he was a communist and he was going to burn down houses."

In other statements to police, Farina said, Sayer told officers that he had been part of the recent protests in Charlottesville.

Farina said investigators have not been able to substantiate that claim.

Farina also said there is no indication that the victim of the attack, a white man, had been singled out due to race.

Police apprehended Sayer shortly after the attack in Powder Mills Park. He was still in possession of the victim's gas can, Farina said.

Sayer has been charged with second-degree robbery, third-degree assault and petit larceny. He was arraigned by Fairport Village Justice Vincent Barrone and remanded to the Monroe County Jail in lieu of $10,000 cash or $20,000 bond. As of Friday morning, he was still listed on the jail's inmate census.

A preliminary hearing in his case is scheduled in Fairport Village Court on Monday.

The victim was treated for his injuries at Strong Memorial Hospital and released.

MCDERMOT@Gannett.com