Rabbi Attacked With Wooden Stake In Silver Spring, 1 Arrested: Police

SILVER SPRING, MD — A man is facing charges after police said he used a wooden stake to attack a rabbi in Silver Spring.

Junior Michael Reece, 47, was arrested Monday and charged with felony assault after the attack that Montgomery County police said happened around 10 a.m. in the 1400 block of Arcola Avenue.

According to police, the rabbi was walking on the sidewalk when he encountered Reece. For unknown reasons, police said Reece swung a wooden stake at the victim, striking him.

Reece left the area following the attack and was later arrested, police said. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

The victim suffered minor injuries from the assault.

The incident is being investigated as a hate crime.

A recent report from the Public Religion Research Institute found that Montgomery County is the most religiously diverse county in the nation. According to the report, Jewish people make up 9 percent of the county's population.

Several synagogues are located near where the attack occurred, including the Silver Spring Jewish Center. The Yeshiva of Greater Washington-Tiferes Gedaliah, a Jewish community-based school, is also near the site.