LEWISTON – Police arrested three men on robbery charges and are investigating a possibly related hate crime that occurred early Monday morning.

Sgt. Kelly Hamel said Monday night that few details about the incident were available because the case remains under investigation. He said police are investigating it as a possible hate crime.

Arrested were Branden Ray Staples, 21, of 64 Oxford St., and Ryan Paul Thompson, 19, of 401 River Road, both of Lewiston, and Joseph Allen Thompson, 24, of 516 Cushing Road, Warren. Each has been charged with robbery.

Hamel said the men approached a 29-year-old man on Monday shortly after midnight in the area of Main and Blake streets. The three allegedly assaulted the victim and robbed him. The man suffered minor injuries, according to Hamel.

Hamel declined to release additional details about the case.