The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office says it is setting the record straight about a man arrested in Wisconsin after an antisemitic image of Sheriff Michael Bouchard was shared.<\/p>\n
Bouchard briefly discussed the image last week during a press conference<\/a> after an attack at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield<\/a>, Michigan.\u00a0<\/p>\n The image was shared during the press conference<\/a>\u00a0(Note: the press conference shows an image containing offensive imagery). The photo showed the Jewish symbol of the Star of David on Bouchard’s forehead, the sheriff with Hasidic curls on the side of his head, and a religious cap.<\/p>\n “[The individual] felt empowered and emboldened enough to put this picture of me up to try to threaten and intimidate me, which, of course, he didn’t do because I signed up for this,” Bouchard said in the press conference. “The person that did this said a bunch of terrible things. Not just against me, but against a lot of groups and individuals \u2014 who, by the way, was arrested today in Wisconsin.”<\/p>\n The sheriff’s office said that since then, people have complained about the man’s arrest and alleged that it was due to the image. However, the department clarified in a statement on March 24 that the individual was arrested for an unrelated incident.\u00a0<\/p>\n The sheriff’s office said<\/a> the man was wanted on an outstanding felony stalking warrant, and the photo drew police to him when someone complained. The sheriff’s office said the image was only shown to illustrate its concerns about antisemitism after the synagogue attack.<\/p>\n “The photo that’s been circulating was shared with us by someone who received direct, threatening communication,” the sheriff’s office said in the statement<\/a>. “It was used to illustrate a larger point: antisemitism is being mainstreamed in ways that should concern every one of us. That information was forwarded to another police agency that already had a felony warrant for that individual. We have had no role in that case or arrest.<\/p>\n “Let us also be clear: posting that image was not a crime, and it was not treated as one. But it is a symptom of a growing problem\u2014one where too many people look the other way, or worse, lend their support. The hateful responses we’ve seen since only reinforce that reality.”\u00a0<\/p>\n The sheriff’s office’s statement did not include the individual’s name.<\/p>\n On March 12, 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali rammed his car into an entrance at Temple Israel and exchanged gunfire with security officers. Investigators say a vehicle caught on fire, resulting in several law enforcement officers being treated for smoke inhalation.<\/p>\n