Isanti man arrested in biased assault case
Times staff report
Published: June 25. 2007 12:37AM
A 33-year-old Isanti resident was in Stearns County Jail on Sunday in connection with a report of a fourth-degree gross misdemeanor biased assault charge.
According to a police report, Phillip Joseph Massa approached a 26-year-old St. Cloud man as he was leaving a prayer mosque at about 2:15 p.m. Saturday in the 600 block of Seventh Avenue South.
Massa accused the man of being a Muslim terrorist and threw a punch that missed. Massa then shoved the man and elbowed him in the side of the head, dislodging the victim's glasses.
When the victim called 911, Massa fled the scene but was apprehended about six blocks away.
Massa also fought with officers at the jail and is expected to be charged with obstructing legal process.
*All kidding aside, a debate in this country needs to be had about the seriousness of these types of crimes. I am a firm believer in the Freedom of Speech and this man's right to speak and think like a simple minded moron are the consequences of that freedom. However, when you act upon your beliefs in a manner that indicates pure hatred of not only a single person but an entire race, religion, or lifestyle it should be treated as if you attacked that entire race, religion, or lifestyle. Your Freedom of Speech ENDS when violence enters into the equation.
