WASHINGTON (WUSA9) — A woman said someone dumped an unknown substance on her outside of a Northwest D.C. Starbucks because she’s Muslim. Now she wants justice.
According to a police report, the incident happened around 10:30 p.m. on April 21 in the 5500 block of Connecticut Avenue NW. The woman was taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi when the suspect began hurling faith-based insults toward her like, “You are a worthless piece of trash and a Muslim,” and “We don’t want you here in this country.”
She tried to ignore the insults, but the report said the suspect continued saying them. Cell phone video captured some of the verbal attack. “I just got nervous, and I also got tired of it,” she said. “So I called 911.”
The victim, who does not want to be identified, said one officer responded. She said he approached the suspect and then her. “And he said, ‘I can’t do anything about words. As soon as I put my police officer uniform on, I’m all kinds of names too. So it’s free speech,’” she explained.
She said when the officer left so did the suspect, but only momentarily. According to the victim, the suspect snuck up on her and poured an unknown liquid-like substance on her head. He then fled down Connecticut Avenue.
The woman’s clothing was still moist when officers responded to the incident, according to the police report.