A 22-year-old West Bloomfield resident has been charged by Oakland County prosecutors with a hate crime for allegedly writing an anti-Black racial slur on a Novi couple’s driveway.
On Sept. 6, the victims’ neighbor hosted a party and hired Ayham Nadeem Assi’s company to provide parking services. The victims spoke to their neighbors about vehicles parked on their lawn and later discovered a racial slur written on their driveway.
According to investigators, home surveillance footage allegedly showed the defendant approaching the driveway and appeared to write the slur. The victims, who are Black, told investigators they felt intimidated and racially targeted.
“Acts of racial intimidation are unacceptable,” said Prosecutor Karen D. McDonald. “Everyone has a right to feel safe in their home and welcome in their neighborhood. There is no excuse for harassing or racially intimidating a family.”
Assi has been charged with a Hate Crime – Using Force, Causing Bodily Injury, Stalking, or Damaging Property, a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.