ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. – An arrest was made Friday in the vandalism of a Rochester Hills mosque.
Ryan Lee Ahern is accused of breaking the glass in a door at the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center.
Officials believe it was a random act and not a hate crime.
The Oakland County Sheriff’s Office said they quickly identified Ahern using surveillance footage from the community center. He was taken into custody without incident.
“It was not only an attack on the mosque, it was an attack on all places of worship,” said Imam Shamshad A. Nasir.
Aherm was arraigned Saturday for allegedly using a hammer to smash the windows. As of Sunday afternoon, the mosque does not want to press charges.
“We heard that the man is arrested, but we told law enforcement that there is nothing from us,” Nasir said. “We don’t want any penalty.”
Multiple religious communities came together Sunday to pray for Ahern and the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Center in an interfaith prayer ceremony.
The mosque’s offer to forgive the person responsible in exchanged for a conversation still stands.
“Let us come sit together and build a bridge for friendship,” Nasir said.
Ahern was able to post $1,000 bail and is no longer in custody. No new court date has been set.
Read more: Metro Detroit crime news