Police have made an arrest in connection with an alleged bias attack on Staten Island.

Police say Joseph Sweeney, 23, is charged with assault, assault as a hate crime and criminal possession of a weapon.

Investigators say the incident started at a gas station on Victory Boulevard in Bulls Head on June 17.

Luis Maltez, 38, says a white man yelled at him, using racial slurs. Investigators say the man then followed Maltez out of the gas station and got into a car with two other men and followed him for about a block.

Police say the men got out of the car and started beating Maltez with baseball bats.

Maltez, who suffered serious head injuries, and needed 20 stitches, said he was relieved that there was at least one arrest.

"I'm happy he's been arrested. No more problem here," said Maltez in broken English. "[I have] pain now, but to have the people arrested is good. No more problems."

Locals were also relieved to hear of the arrest.

"I'm really glad because this is a really diverse neighborhood. We all get along. Everybody helps everybody out. And to have that happen is kind of scary because we have kids and you want them to grow up loving everybody," said one Bulls Head resident.

"I'm happy they did catch the guy, you know, because we're all human. Before you're a color, first you're human. And I think that's how we should look at each other," said another Bulls Head resident.

Police are still looking for two other suspects.