A 15-year-old boy was arrested and charged with assault and robbery after brutally beating and robbing a Baltimore Police Department civilian employee last week, according to reports.
The teen, who hasn’t been named, was caught on camera attacking the 59-year-old man who worked as a lab technician for the police department.
A reward of up to $32,000 is being offered in this case. We are working with our partners at @ATFBaltimore @FBIBaltimore @MCSMaryland https://t.co/BUxM3E4NOJ
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) July 26, 2019
Following the incident on Albemarle Street, the 15-year-old was taken to a juvenile detention facility where he was charged with first-degree assault and robbery, reported CBS Baltimore.
Major Milton Snead of the Citywide Robbery Unit told the outlet social media played a crucial role in capturing the suspect.
“This arrest was the direct result of the community’s outrage to this crime and the subsequent help that residents provided police,” he said.
“The floodgates of social media and anonymous tips opened, and the information poured in.”
The 15-year-old was arrested on July 29 at a store in Columbia, Maryland. However, police are still searching for two further suspects linked to the attack who were also captured on camera, according to CBS Baltimore.
Footage of the assault and robbery shows three teens surrounding the Baltimore Police Department civilian employee on electric scooters. They punch him, knock him down, and kick him until he appears to go unconscious, the clip shows.
At one point, one of the teens appears to stomp on the victim’s head repeatedly.
The group of three then search through the 59-year-old’s pocket and take off the video shows. Police later confirmed the man was robbed and his car keys were stolen.
BPD Commissioner Michael Harrison described the attack as “extremely shocking” after he was shown the clip.
“And so it’s extremely shocking to the conscience, extremely worrisome and troublesome and disturbing. And yes, we are deploying all of our resources in the most aggressive way—but not abusive—to be in as many places as we can to deter it,” he told CBS Baltimore.
The victim, who is Muslim, was reportedly on his way to work after finishing his morning prayer at around 6 a.m. when he was approached by the teens, his friends said.
Since the incident, he has been unable to sleep properly and suffers from nightmares, according to Zainab Chaudry, of The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).
“He is very shaken,” Chaudry told CBS Baltimore. “He is still trying to cope in the aftermath of the attack. He still has nightmares. He’s not able to sleep at night.”
#NEW: 15-year-old boy has now been arrested in connection with this brutal beating/robbery of a Baltimore City Police employee that was caught on camera…We’ll have more on @wjz tonight at 5 & 11… pic.twitter.com/5IFI8Yl4AI
— Rick Ritter (@RickRitterWJZ) July 30, 2019
However, in a statement obtained by the outlet, the victim said he forgives his attackers and that they will be brought to justice.
“I’m glad that the suspect is in custody, so no one else is hurt. From my personal point of view, as a Muslim guided by my faith, I forgive them.”
“Law enforcement is handling the case, and justice will run its course. They will have to face consequences, but it’s very important for them to get the help they need to become productive citizens of Baltimore,” he added.
The motive behind the attack is still unknown, and currently under investigation.
“It could have been a robbery, but we shouldn’t rule out a hate crime,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad told the Baltimore Sun.
“This was a respected person in our community, and he had religious attire on and was knocked to the ground and then brutally attacked.”
Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact the Baltimore Police Department’s Citywide Robbery Unit, at 410-366-6341. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-7LOCKUP.
The Epoch Times reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
