Montgomery County Police say a former employee at Benny’s Bar and Grill in Potomac threatened owner Benny Fischer and made anti-Semitic remarks after Fischer hung an Israeli and American flag outside of his restaurant earlier this month.
Police on Tuesday said Amber Denise Edmond, 30, of Beltsville called Fischer on his cellphone from a blocked number at about 2:41 a.m. on Aug. 7, the day after Fischer hung the Israeli flag from his 7747 Tuckerman Lane restaurant to show his support for Israel in its military conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
According to police, Edmond “made several threats to harm the owner and made anti-Semitic remarks,” and “also told the owner to take his Israeli flag down from the restaurant.” Police said Edmond then called Fischer again about four minutes later but he did not answer.
That’s a slightly different story than what Fischer told Bethesda Magazine when he talked about the incident earlier this month.
Fischer told Bethesda Magazine he answered the second call during which the caller “continued the rant, saying things like, ‘You f–king Jew, I’m going to kill you and all the other Jews,’ according to Fischer.”
Police said they used phone records to identify the suspect as Edmond. They have charged her with obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs by threat of force and telephone misuse and issued a warrant for her arrest.
Police said investigators are trying to arrange a time for Edmond to turn herself in.
Meanwhile, Fischer is planning a fundraiser at his restaurant for Magen David Adom, the Israeli organization similar to the American Red Cross.
Photo via Benny’s Bar and Grill Facebook
