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Chase Coleman, an autistic ninth-grade student at Corcoran High School, quit the cross country team after being shoved to the ground by a stranger during a race in Rochester. Rochester authorities said today they will charge the alleged attacker with second-degree harassment, a violation, according to Coleman's mother.

(Submitted photo)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The man accused of attacking autistic teen runner Chase Coleman during a race in Rochester will be charged with second-degree harassment, Coleman's mother said today.

Rochester police notified Clarise Coleman this morning that they had received a signed warrant from a city court judge to charge Martin MacDonald, of Pittsford. The charge is a violation punishable by up to 15 days in jail.

Investigator Jacqueline Shuman of the Rochester Police Department confirmed a warrant had been issued. Clarise Coleman said she received the information today from a sergeant working on the case.

The warrant signed by City Court Judge Caroline Morrison sets bail at $500 cash or $1,000 bond, according to a court clerk.

If MacDonald pays the bail when the warrant is served on him, he will be issued an appearance ticket to appear in court at a later date, said the clerk, who declined to give her name. Otherwise, MacDonald might be picked up by police and arraigned in the morning, the clerk said.

Chase Coleman, 15, was running in a cross country race Oct. 14 in Rochester when he encountered MacDonald, 57, on a park road, according to witnesses. MacDonald got out of his vehicle at some point and shoved Chase to the ground, yelling "Get out of here,'' according to witnesses.

MacDonald admitted pushing the teen, after he was contacted at home by police. He told a sheriff's deputy he was worried that Chase might mug his wife, who was sitting in the vehicle, according to the police report.

On Oct. 21, Morrison denied an application for an arrest warrant from Rochester police in the same case. That led to outcries from Clarise Coleman and Syracuse Common Councilor Susan Boyle, who suspected that Chase was being discriminated against because he is black and has a disability. MacDonald is white, according to the police report.

Rochester police came to Syracuse Monday, after publicity spread about the case, to take a statement from Clarise Coleman. They also sought signed statements from two witnesses, Coleman said.

The incident has attracted national attention, including coverage by the Washington Post, USA Today, syndicated columnist Leonard Pitts Jr. and others.

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