Plain Dealer (Cleveland, OH)
BYLINE: Donna J. Miller, Plain Dealer Reporter
Cleveland, OH
Cleveland police are investigating a report of ethnic intimidation at the Stonebridge Waterfront Apartments on Detroit Avenue.
Fady Alghusain, 29, found a toy camel with a noose around its neck hanging on his apartment door Tuesday morning, according to a police report. He heard a knock on his door and a man laughing about 12:30 a.m. He opened the door and found the camel hanging from the door knocker. There was no one in the hall.
Alghusain took the camel to a security guard and asked him to call police.
Patrol officers put the camel in the District 2 evidence room, but noted in their report that the victim and the guard had handled the camel, disturbing any prints left by the suspect.
Reached Tuesday afternoon, Alghusain said he was shocked and hurt that someone would do such a thing.
Mary Rose Oakar, president of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee, said the stunt was mild compared to other racial attacks.
“But it’s not cute at all, and you wonder, is violence next?” she said.
“We’ve got to end this. There isn’t a group that hasn’t contributed positive things to our country.”
Alghusain is a graduate student studying electrical engineering at Cleveland State University. He holds multiple patents and recently founded Amidac, a railroad engineering company expected to bring 100 jobs to Cleveland. Amidac stands for American Middle Eastern Co.
Detectives are investigating, and a Cleveland Community Relations counselor will visit the building to speak with residents.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: djmiller@plaind.com, 216-999-4852
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