FBI Seeking Public’s Assistance in Identifying Individual

Special Agent in Charge Andrew G. Arena announced today that the FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying an individual involved in an assault/alleged civil rights violation. The incident occurred at the BP gas station located at 18900 Greenfield, Detroit, Michigan, on March 7, 2011 at approximately 9:30 p.m. The individual of interest is a black male, approximately 5’10” tall, 210 lbs, bald, with a goatee. Pictures of this individual are below. If you have any information related to the assault, or identity of the described individual, please contact the FBI Detroit Office at (313) 965-2323.

The FBI is the primary federal agency responsible for investigating all allegations regarding violations of federal civil rights statutes. These laws are designed to protect the civil rights of all persons, citizens and non-citizens alike, within United States territory.

To address these concerns effectively, the FBI civil rights program has been divided into four subprograms. In order of priority, these programs are:

1. Hate crimes
2. Color of law
3. Human trafficking
4. Freedom of access to clinic entrances

Hate crimes are the FBI’s number one civil rights priority due to the impact these matters have on an entire community. A hate crime is a criminal offense against a person or property, motivated in whole or in part by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, ethnicity/national origin, or sexual orientation.

Color of law simply means that the person doing the act is using the power given to him or her by a governmental agency. Most of the FBI’s color of law investigations fall into five categories: excessive force, sexual assaults, false arrest, deprivation of property, and failure to keep from harm.

Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that includes the exploitation of individuals who work in labor industries such as agriculture and domestic service, and who are forced into prostitution and/or slave labor.

Freedom of access to clinic entrances involves the use of force, threat of force, or physical obstruction to intentionally injure, intimidate, and interfere with persons because they are seeking or providing reproductive health services. In addition, it is also unlawful to damage or destroy property because the facility provides reproductive health services.

If you believe you have been the victim of a civil rights violation or have direct knowledge of one, please contact your local FBI office.