Man Charged In Restaurant Attack On Man Perceived To Be Of Muslim Heritage
BETHEL PARK (KDKA) - An Upper Saint Clair man is accused of attacking another man in a restaurant because he believed the victim to be of "Muslim heritage."
Bethel Park Police Chief Timothy O'Connor says his office received reports of an assault at the Red Robin restaurant in South Hills Village Tuesday night.
"One patron, believing that the patron next to him was of Muslim descent, assaulted the victim," said Chief O'Connor. "He used a series of racial slurs and then launched his assault on the victim."
Police arrested Jeffrey Burgess, 54, of Upper Saint Clair. The chief says it appears the attack was unprovoked.
"Indications are that the actor, Burgess, was upset that this gentleman was sitting next to him," said Chief O'Connor, "and that he was of what he perceived to be of Muslim heritage."
The victim, whose name police have not released, was treated at a local hospital.
"He suffered abrasions and some contusions and we believe he then went to seek treatment at an area hospital," O'Connor added.
Burgess now faces several charges.
"In addition to assault, harassment, public drunkenness, he is charged with ethnic intimidation," O'Connor told KDKA.
In addition to the ethnic slurs, Burgess reportedly said, "Things are different now."
The Pittsburgh chapter of the council on American-Islamic relations released a statement saying:
"Based on the alleged attacker's comments about 'things are different now,' we believe this is just the latest incident in a spike in anti-Muslim hate crimes since the Nov. 8 election."
The investigation into this case is ongoing. Burgess remains in the Allegheny County Jail.
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