Oak Forest Cop Arrested in Attack on 2 Teens in California

Photo: ABC7 News

An Oak Forest police officer has been arrested in connection with the attack and stabbing of two teenagers in California.

Arthur Roman, 28, of Tinley Park, was arrested along with his 25-year-old brother Martin, and his brother’s wife, Jessica, after getting into an altercation with two teenagers who allege they were targeted because they were speaking Arabic, ABC Chicago reports.

Karam Jarrah, 17, was stabbed twice on Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a fitness center in Huntington Beach. He and his brother-in-law, Asem Dghem, were walking by a car in which the three suspects were sitting, when one commented, “What’s up Obama bam?’” Jarrah told police.

Jarrah told police the confrontation escalated to violence, and Martin Roman pulled a knife and stabbed him.

Police are not able to confirm the attack was racially motivated. It is not being treated as a hate crime.

Huntington Beach police later pulled over a car and took Roman, his brother and his brother’s wife into custody. The three were released on bond, reports the Orange County register.

Oak Forest police told news media the department was notified Sunday by the Huntington Beach Police Department that one of its officers had been placed under arrest. Roman has been put on administrative leave.