A Uniondale man arrested by Nassau police has accused the department's officers and the Nassau County district attorney of racism.

Aloysius Staton was arrested June 1 after a brawl at a McDonald's restaurant in Oceanside. Staton was the only person arrested following the melee, despite footage from a security tape confirming the other group started the fight, his attorney, Bill Shanahan, says.

Staton says a group of six to eight white teenagers entered the restaurant behind him, his girlfriend and another friend. Shanahan says the teens started saying racial epithets, most prominently the "n" word, when Staton went to the restroom.

The group wouldn't let Staton leave the restaurant, he says, and arguing led to one of the white teenagers hitting his friend with a chair. As Staton was being held down by members of the other group, he says he hit one of them with a beer bottle.

Staton was imprisoned for one month before making bail. The person he hit with a bottle underwent surgery for his injuries.

Shanahan claims actions by the officers and District Attorney Kathleen Rice's prosecution of the case displays bigoted behavior.

Rice declined comment on the claims of race influencing her decision, but through a spokesperson noted that an independent grand jury chose to indict Staton for his actions.