Fox 2 photo
A Farmington Hills man, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol faces charges of ethnic intimidation and assault after he allegedly attacked a 7-Eleven clerk on Crooks Road in Troy because he was Muslim.
James Tree was arraigned May 3, two days after the incident.
Tree allegedly threatened to kill the clerk, Fox 2's Taryn Asher reports. She says the clerk calls 911:
"We have a problem. Can you come? He's drunk and trying to kill us."
911 operator: "What' sgoing on there?"
"He is fighting and asking for Visa in a language and saying we're Muslim. He's drunk, please come here."Tree began yelling ethnic slurs at the store clerk saying we are "at war" and threatening to kill him because he is a Muslim..
Tree punched the clerk several times in the head and face, Fox 2 reports, adding that the clerk and manager eventually overpowered Tree and pushed him out the door and lock it behind him. Tree was arrested at a nearby gas station.
He was drunk by twice the legal limit, police say.
