DEARBORN — The Arab American News (TAAN) was first to report on an incident that occurred Oct. 25 involving an Arab American man who was brutally beaten after stepping outside of his car to check on whether other motorists involved in a car accident during a funeral procession between Ford and Chase Road here were fine.  Now 38 year-old Dennis Perry of Detroit, one of the men connected to the beating was found and was arraigned on Nov. 26 before Dearborn 19th District Court Judge William Hultgren on charges of unarmed robbery and assault and battery. 

After an investigation by Dearborn Police with the help of witnesses at the scene, Perry was identified.  TAAN was present at the scene of the incident, and witnessed what appeared to be more than 10 men attacking the victim, while his three young children were in the car watching and crying. The funeral procession was on its way to a cemetery in another city. 

 A motorist failed to yield to the procession and collided with two vehicles.  The Arab man, who was a driver of one of the not-at-fault vehicles and a Dearborn resident, exited his vehicle to check on the welfare of the other parties involved and to call the police.  

Several members of the funeral procession then exited their vehicles and approached him, yelling at him about the crash.  He was struck in the face and started bleeding and fell to the ground. His cell phone was then taken from his hand by one of the perpetrators.  The assault continued until the police arrived a short time later.  

“While we realize emotions tend to run high when people are involved in funeral proceedings, there is no excuse for turning a traffic accident into an assault and robbery.  We will relentlessly follow up on this type of violent crime,” Dearborn Police Chief Ronald Haddad said. Haddad credited a quick response by patrol officers and a diligent follow-up by detectives for the arrest and prosecution of the case. It doesn’t appear that other men who participated in the crime have been brought to justice.