- Hesham A. Ayyad, 20, reportedly told the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Cleveland that a driver ran him over after shouting anti-Palestinian slurs
- But Ayyad was arrested Tuesday by North Ridgeville police, who said his injuries resulted from a fight with his brother
- He was reportedly charged with making a false alarm, forgery, obstructing official business, domestic violence and assault
A man in Ohio has been arrested after claiming he lied to police about being attacked for being Palestinian, even though his injuries were the result of a fight with his younger brother.
Hesham A. Ayyad, 20, reportedly told the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Cleveland that a driver ran him over with his car after shouting anti-Palestinian insults.
The organization subsequently released on October 23, demanding an investigation into the incident, along with a photo of him in hospital wearing a neck brace.
But Ayyad was arrested Tuesday by North Ridgeville police, who said his injuries resulted from a fight with his brother cleveland.com.
He was reportedly charged with making a false alarm, forgery, obstructing official business, domestic violence and assault.
Hesham A. Ayyad, 20, has been arrested for claiming he lied to police about being attacked for being Palestinian when his injuries resulted from a fight with his younger brother
He reportedly told the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Cleveland that a driver ran him over with his car after he shouted anti-Palestinian insults.
Ayyad was walking home from lunch near the border of Olmsted Falls and North Ridgeville at 4 p.m. when a car pulled up next to him, the CAIR news release said.
He reportedly told the Islamic civil rights and advocacy group that the driver shouted “Kill all Palestinians” and “Long live Israel” at him.
‘The driver then allegedly turned around and hit the man while shouting ‘DIE!’ shouted,” the statement said.
The CAIR also shared a photo of Ayyad in the hospital wearing a neck brace.
Cleveland’s interim chief, Faten Odeh, said at the time, “We hope that the North Ridgeville Police Department and the FBI will gather all the information they need to charge this individual with a hate crime.”
CAIR was subsequently released on October 23, demanding an investigation into the incident, along with a photo of him in hospital wearing a neck brace.
Ayyad was then contacted by North Ridgeville police officers, who said he told them he “had been struck by a vehicle and that the incident was racially motivated” before being taken to the hospital.
Investigators looking into the incident gathered surveillance footage from the area and concluded he had lied about being hit by the car and being racially abused.
“The injuries sustained at the time of the incident were caused by a violent fight in which the alleged victim participated with his brother, which was confirmed by video surveillance in the area,” police said.
Ayyad was subsequently arrested along with his 19-year-old brother Khalil A. Ayyad, who was charged with domestic violence and assault. The couple is being held in the Lorain County Jail.
A spokesman for the Islamic Council said the organization had no further information about the nature of the allegations.
“It is our understanding that the brothers have received their own legal representation,” she added.
DailyMail.com has contacted CAIR and North Ridgeville police for comment.