Former Benny's Restaurant Worker Charged in Hate Crime

A former employee of a Potomac restaurant has been charged with a hate crime for reportedly making threatening and anti-Semitic phone calls to the owner of Benny’s Bar and Grill.

Amber Denise Edmond, 30, of Beltsville turned herself in to police officers Tuesday night, says the Montgomery County Police Department. A warrant had been issued for her arrest on a charge of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force and telephone misuse.

Earlier this month, Benny Fischer displayed an Israeli flag, along with an American flag, outside Benny’s Bar & Grill at 7747 Tuckerman Lane in Potomac to show his support for Israel during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In the middle of the night, police say, Fischer received phone calls on his cell phone from a blocked number. The anonymous caller reportedly made several threats to harm Fischer, along with anti-Semitic remarks. The suspect also told Fischer to take down his Israeli flag from the restaurant.

Using phone records, detectives were able to identify the suspect as Edmond, a former employee of Fischer’s restaurant.

In response, Fischer told WNEW he called the anonymous caller a coward for calling in the middle of the night and using an unlisted phone number.

New fighting between Israeli troops and militants in the Gaza Strip flared this summer after the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in June, reports the BBC. After Hamas claimed responsibility for firing rockets into Israel, a series of Israeli air strikes began. Fighting between Israel and Palestinian militants is currently on hold after both parties agreed to a ceasefire.

Fischer told the station he will proceed with a fundraising event next month at his restaurant to raise money for Magen David Adom, an Israeli organization similar to the American Red Cross.