Avon’s mayor, police chief and law director have apologized to a Muslim man who was wrongfully accused of supporting ISIS before police pinned him to the ground and handcuffed him.
Only newsnet5.com attended that face-to-face peace meeting, which took place Saturday night at the Cleveland office of CAIR, The Council on American-Islamic Relations, and was organized by Avon Mayor Brian Jensen.
On Wednesday a clerk at the Fairfield Inn & Suites on Colorado Avenue had her sister call 911 claiming a man dressed in traditional Muslim clothing was on the phone pledging allegiance to ISIS. Police quickly realized that did not happen and they released the man. He fainted shortly afterward. That man was later identified as Ahmed Almenhali of The United Arab Emirates.
Body camera video showed officers handcuffing and searching Almenhali. He was hospitalized with minor injuries.
On Saturday, Avon’s top city officials told Almenhali they were sorry.
“No one from the police department (wanted) to disrespect you,” Police Chief Richard Bosley told Almenhali. “That was not the intent of any of our officers. It is a very regrettable circumstance that occurred for you. You should not have been put in that situation like you were.”
“There were some false accusations made against you,” Mayor Brian Jensen said. “And those are regrettable. I hope…the person that made those can maybe learn from those.”
Mayor Jensen also suggested having another meeting. Chief Bosley said he stood by his officers, but said they will review their policies.
The woman who made the false claim could still face criminal charges.
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