A disturbing event occurred at the Islamic Center of North Marin last Friday. According to a post from the Novato Police Department's social media account, at approximately 11:30 AM, officers were dispatched to the 7000 block of Redwood Blvd in response to a reported disturbance. A patrol officer, upon speaking with a witness, heard what was believed to be a car crash near the Islamic Center.
The scene unfolded rapidly as the officer found a vehicle lodged into the side of an outbuilding on the center's grounds. The driver, identified later as 33-year-old David Slattery of Novato, was observed forcefully opening the building door, muttering nonsensical phrases, before launching an attack on a member of the mosque. According to the Novato Police Department, the timely response of the officer on-site brought a swift end to the assault, leading to Slattery's detention.
As a result of the incident, the victim was transported to a local hospital for medical attention, having sustained minor injuries. The police took Slattery into custody, booking him for felony assault, burglary, and vandalism at the Marin County Jail. However, despite the violent nature of the intrusion and the setting within a religious institution, officers have yet to conclude whether the attack was a hate crime or motivated by hate.
