Orlando Javier Ramirez, 30, remains jailed in the city of Fresno, charged with suspicion of felony vandalism, committing a hate crime against a Jewish temple and making criminal threats in connection with an incident at Noah’s Arks Restaurant and Bakery.
In a video released by the owners of the restaurant, which is located east of Barstow Avenue, the alleged perpetrator is seen getting out of his car and throwing stones at the windows of the establishment.
Ramírez was arrested last week, on suspicion of being the cause of a hate crime against Jews, by attacking the Temple Beth Israel synagogue, on Maroa Street, where he broke a window.
The acts of vandalism occurred as Israel wages a war against Hamas after several terrorist attacks have killed thousands of people since October 7.
Orlando Javier Ramírez, the suspect in committing the vandalism at the synagogue, left a message at the non-Jewish Mediterranean restaurant and bakery: “All Jewish businesses will be attacked,” said Lieutenant Bill Doney, spokesman for the Fresno Police Department. .
For his part, the head of the FPD said in a statement sent to La Opinión that his department continues the investigation of the two incidents that occurred.
The first attack happened around six in the morning at Temple Beth Israel.
An employee discovered that the glass of the front door had been broken by a rock.
“They also found a backpack containing several more rocks that was left at the scene,” Fresno Police Department Chief Paco Balderrama said. “No suspect was seen and, although [inicialmente] “There were no indications, now it is a hate crime and we are investigating it as a hate incident.”
The second incident occurred at Noah’s Ark Restaurant and Bakery. Two and a half hours after the first attack.
An employee at the bakery, which is owned by Armenians and not Jews, discovered two broken windows and a newspaper with a handwritten message threatening Jewish-owned businesses.
“It is not very common for these types of incidents to happen here.” [en Fresno]”, declared Sergeant Diana Trueba Vega, to La Opinión. “In that we are lucky.”
The suspect is also accused of having attacked that same restaurant last May.
“Draw attention”
Orlando Javier Ramírez, born Nov. 15, 1992, is being held in the Fresno County Jail, and although he is eligible for bail, “he probably doesn’t have the money to pay,” said Tony Botti, spokesman for the Fresno Sheriff’s Department. , to Real America News.
“Often when these types of incidents of vandalism happen, people are not educated and sometimes have nothing to do with those who are fighting,” Botti said. “Unfortunately, they join the groups’ anger; “Perhaps we will never know the true reasons for his way of acting, although perhaps he did it for the opportunity to want to attract attention.”
Ramírez’s criminal record indicates that he was on parole when he allegedly committed the crimes of which he is accused, including felony acts of vandalism and damage to the property of others, violation of the civil rights of others, and criminal threats.
Criminal charges
For criminal offense 12022 1A, related to the use of a deadly/dangerous weapon in the commission of a serious crime, he would face one year in prison.
The charge for violating the penal code PC 594A 1 is considered a felony, because the costs of the damages caused exceed $950.
He also faces a double criminal charge (PC code 422 6B) for criminal threats.
Ramirez could be charged with a felony, depending on his criminal history and the factual circumstances surrounding the crime. A conviction for serious criminal threats can be punishable by up to three years in prison, plus an additional year if the defendant used a deadly or dangerous weapon in making the threat. This crime is a “strike” under California’s Three Strikes Law that can be used to increase prison sentences on future convictions.
Balderrama said his office will not tolerate any acts of violence, threats of violence or efforts to intimidate any members of the community.
Violence is not resolved with violence
“We know that we are in a period of emotions and strong feelings,” said Robin Toma, executive director of the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission regarding acts of anti-Semitism. “And it is always good to take some time to reflect, lower your emotions and think about the best way to express yourself without violence.”
Toma stressed that “we are not doing enough to avoid all the consequences of violence; We are suffering and we must keep in mind that violence is not defeated with violence, nor hate with hate.”
And, like every year, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which tracks incidents of harassment and vandalism and anti-Semitic attacks in the United States, found that in 2022 there were 3,697 incidents against Jews.
This is a 36% increase from the 2,717 incidents tabulated in 2021.
Significant increases included high volume in organized white supremacist propaganda activity (102% increase or 852 incidents) at K-12 schools (49% increase or 494 incidents) and college campuses (41% increase or 219 incidents). , as well as percentage increases in attacks on Orthodox Jews (69% increase or 59 incidents) and bomb threats against Jewish institutions (an increase of eight to 91 incidents).