A San Rafael man was arrested after an alleged pepper spray attack at an Islamic prayer and study site in Novato.
The incident happened at about 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Islamic Center of North Marin on Redwood Boulevard, Novato police Capt. Sasha D’Amico reported. He appeared to carry a firearm in his bag, D’Amico said.
The suspect sprayed a witness who tried to restrain him, then fled, D’Amico said. A surveillance camera recorded him.
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Investigators identified the suspect and took him into custody Tuesday morning. They did not find a firearm at his home and do not have enough evidence to allege a hate crime, D’Amico said.
David John Margoliash, 48, was arrested on suspicion of unlawfully using tear gas, disturbing a religious meeting and being a felon in possession of tear gas. He was booked into the Marin County Jail, where his bail was set at $250,000. He told jail staff that his occupation is filmmaker.
The center, a nonprofit organization, began its observance of the Ramadan holiday on Monday.