Man charged with ethnic intimidation after alleged attack at Red Robin restaurant

BETHEL PARK, Pa. — A man accused of attacking another man whom he believed was a Muslim at a Red Robin restaurant Tuesday night is facing charges, according to the Pittsburgh chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR).

CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, condemned the attack, saying it’s the latest in a series to happen since the election on Nov. 8.

According to CAIR, the alleged victim, who is of Indian heritage, said a man sat next to him at the restaurant in Bethel Park and began using racial slurs.

CAIR alleged the attacker believed the Indian man was Muslim and started calling him a "sand n-word" and a "(expletive) Muslim” and stated that “things are different now.”

The alleged victim said the man then struck him in the face four or five times, resulting in a loose tooth and cut on his lip.

CAIR-Pittsburgh Chapter President Safdar Khwaja praised police for arresting the alleged attacker.

“We really respect the police, and we are appreciative that the police responded in a timely fashion and they were able to bring order to this situation,” he said.

Bethel Park Police Chief Timothy O'Connor confirmed that Jeffrey Burgess, 54, was arrested in connection with the incident and charged with ethnic intimidation, simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness.

Channel 11 News went to the victim’s home Wednesday night. His father said his son is OK but declined to comment any further.

Cox Media Group