DEARBORN – According to accounts by 20 customers at the Tim Hortons on Greenfield, an Arab man in his early twenties was physically assaulted Wednesday night around 10:30 p.m. when a Dearborn policeman slammed his head into a glass door. The officer also twisted the man’s arm and placed his knee on the victim’s neck making it hard for him to breath. 

The Tim Hortons is connected to a Wendys. The incident occurred after the man purchased food from Wendys and sat down to eat it.  A Wendys’ associate told the man he couldn’t eat there because the customer dining area was closed. The man grabbed his food and sat down at the Tim Hortons where he began to study not knowing the Wendys worker had called police on him.  When police initially approached the man they asked him whether he had any weapons. Eventually, the man was taken into police custody and driven away in the officer’s car. 

Shortly after the assault witnesses at the scene contacted the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee of Michigan to complain about what they say was an appalling and disturbing incident. 

When Imad Hamad, regional director of the ADC arrived at the scene with ADC Interim Acting President Zouheir Alawieh the victim was gone. Witnesses say the man never spoke to the officers aggressively and was sitting down quiet and studying before police arrived.  

The ADC says the man may be a college student and could have got a head concussion, or be mentally affected from the incident which customers say had a strong impact.  

The Wendys and Tim Hortons location where witnesses said a young Arab man had his head slammed into a glass door by a Dearborn policeman.   PHOTO: Natasha Dado/TAAN

The officer who about 20 witnesses believe may have abused his discretion has been described as a short, heavy-set man with black hair and was with another officer. The plate number on the officer’s car is 23153.

Hamad contacted Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad to notify him about the incident and accounts from witnesses the same night. Haddad then sent a dispatcher out to the scene to investigate further.  

Hamad thanked Haddad for his immediate response and attention regarding the unfortunate situation. In a letter Hamad writes: “Indeed, your quick response and action promptly initiating an ‘investigation’ and sending Sgt. Shahin to look into the matter speaks highly of your leadership and your commitment to fairness.”

Hamad also notes that the incident does not reflect all Dearborn policemen, because he knows too many that are fair and conduct themselves in an appropriate manner. 

Hamad was asked whether any of the witnesses said the man used profanity towards anyone. 

He says even if that was the case, it wouldn’t be substantial enough to justify the officer’s actions.  When a representative from The Arab American News (TAAN) arrived at the Wendys to obtain information on the incident Thursday the district manger was there and said she was “working on trying to figure out what happened.” 

The district manager speaking with a negative attitude refused to give her name to TAAN, and said the company had no comments on the incident, and to direct any questions to the investigator at the Dearborn Police Department who was handling the case. 

TAAN contacted Haddad, but he did not respond as of press time. Speaking to TAAN one of Tim Hortons associates who did not want to be identified said she doesn’t know why Wendys called the police on the man and the incident was completely inappropriate because the man seemed to just be studying quietly. 

Tim Hortons associates say cameras were on at the time the incident occurred. The ADC is trying to retrieve the footage. 

Dearborn Police say they can’t disclose the name of the victim because the investigation is still pending. The ADC is taking the incident seriously and its review committee directed Hamad to file a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain further details. 

When Hamad called the Wendys to inquire on the incident the manager answered and asked him what he wanted and said she was on her lunch break and then shut the phone on him. Hamad says he’s surprised it was a manager speaking. 

“She has no right to treat anyone in such a disrespectful manner,” Hamad said. Once Hamad couldn’t get a hold of the Wendys district manager he wrote a letter to Wendys’ president, David Karam.  

“We are not rushing to judgment but what we heard from 20 people speaks for itself…We are not going to let this go…Couldn’t believe this happened here in Dearborn and in such a fashion,” Hamad said.