Cedar Rapids Police have arrested a man for damaging windows and doors at an Islamic center. Damage to the Islamic Center in Cedar Rapids was reported Tuesday. It appeared someone used rocks and possibly a baseball bat to cause an estimated $3,000 in damage. Last night, 19-year-old Eric Spencer of Swisher went to the police department and admitted he was responsible.
Police say it appears the case is a random act of criminal mischief rather than a hate crime. There have been six criminal mischief cases involving the Cedar Rapids Islamic Center since 1999. Hassan Igram, chairman of the board of directors for the center, doesn’t believe anyone has a grudge against the local Muslim community.
But, he says he can’t rule that out. “I base that on some of the things happening around the country…vandalism that’s happened around the country to other Islamic centers,” Igram said.
By Dave Franzman, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids