Baltimore Police Employee Assaulted, Rewards Offered For Info

BALTIMORE, MD — A Baltimore Police civilian employee was the victim of an assault earlier this week, and law enforcement officials are seeking information from the public to identify the assailants.

The assault happened July 24 on Albemarle Street in East Baltimore. Police are searching for three suspects — two men and one woman — seen in surveillance video capturing the assault.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations joined police and Muslim community leaders Friday in condemning the assault. In a release sent by CAIR, the victim was described as a 59-year-old Muslim male dressed in Islamic attire. Given the victim's attire, CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry said it's possible he may have been returning from a morning prayer service.

In a statement, Chaudry said "it's time to take back our streets." The organization is offering a $1,000 reward for information about the assault leading to arrests and convictions.

"CAIR condemns this horrific incident in the strongest terms possible. We recognize this attack has the elements of a possible hate crime in which the victim's religious head covering was forcibly removed before he was knocked to the ground. We call for a swift and transparent investigation that will bring the suspects to justice," Chaudry continued in the statement.

ATF Baltimore, the FBI and Crime Stoppers also are offering up to a $32,000 reward for information leading to the arrest. Anyone with information should call 866-7LOCKUP.