Man doused with pepper spray outside Islamic center: Novato police

NOVATO, Calif. - A 48-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an attack at an Islamic center in Novato, where worshipers were preparing to celebrate the first day of Ramadan on Monday, police said. 

Officers were called to the Islamic Center of North Marin on Redwood Boulevard at around 8:30 p.m., on a report that a man was pepper sprayed by a suspect who may have also been in possession of a firearm.

SEE ALSO: First day of Ramadan met with conflicted emotions this year

"It's a very special time of year of Ramadan. And so people were entering, arriving around that time and this individual had shown up and was generally cordial and was in conversation with some of the people," said one of the mosque's leaders named Zachary, who did not want to give his last name. "Somebody noticed that he had a firearm in his bag and that was set off some red flags."

Zachary says that's when the member of the mosque grabbed the bag and alerted others.

"We're grateful to him. I mean, he was courageous," Zachary said. 

Zachary said the suspect tried to get his bag back and became violent. 

"He punched him and assaulted him and sprayed him with pepper spray and then grabbed his bag and then fled," Zachary said. 

On Tuesday, Novato Police announced they had arrested 48-year-old David Margoliash, a San Rafael resident. Police say they served a search warrant and found evidence at his house.

"We're increasing the security presence. We've been working with the police," Zachary said

Police say so far, there's no evidence the mosque was specifically targeted or that this was a hate crime.

In this case, it feels like it might be something else, someone with mental health issues, Zachary said. Police said in a news release, the confrontation was captured on surveillance video. 

The victim was treated at a hospital for minor injuries. 

Police, along with the California Highway Patrol Golden Gate Division Air Operations, searched the area. 

Their investigation led them to David Margoliash of San Rafael. Police said they learned that he had visited the Islamic center. 

With the assistance of other law enforcement agencies in Marin County, police located and arrested Margoliash on Tuesday morning.

Officers also served a search warrant at the suspect’s home. "Evidence was located which further implicated him in this crime," investigators said, adding, "No firearm was located at this time."

Margoliash was booked into the Marin County Jail on charges of disrupting a religious ceremony and both a misdemeanor and felony charge for use of pepper spray. 

In his booking log, his occupation was listed as filmmaker. 

Police said it did not appear that the suspect explicitly targeted the center and that at this point, they did not have sufficient evidence to support any hate crime-related charges.

Investigators did stress, "Novato Police Department is committed to protecting the rights of our community members to worship peacefully, safely, and without fear." 

KTVU's Jana Katsuyama contributed to this report.