Suspect arrested after GOP Rep. Max Miller says he was 'run off the road' by a man waving a Palestinian flag

CLEVELAND — Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, said helium was “run disconnected the road” Thursday greeting successful a Cleveland suburb by a antheral who waved a Palestinian emblem and threatened Miller and his young daughter.

The incident, which comes amid acute concerns astir a emergence successful governmental violence, is being investigated by the U.S. Capitol Police and by constabulary successful Rocky River, Ohio.

A suspect, Feras S. Hamdan of Westlake, Ohio, turned himself successful to Rocky River constabulary aft Miller signed a transgression ailment for aggravated menacing and an apprehension warrant was issued, Rocky River officials said. Hamdan’s lawyer did not instantly respond to a message.

“I was conscionable driving to work, and I was chopped disconnected by a antheral successful a Tesla who held up a Palestinian emblem to me, and past rolled down his model and said that ‘I’m going to chopped your pharynx and your daughter’s,” Miller, who is Jewish, is heard saying connected a 9111 call, audio of which the Rocky River Police Department released on with a connection Friday. “And helium said, ‘You’re a soiled Jew. I’m going to f---ing termination you all, and I cognize who you are and wherever you live.’”

Miller, 36, told 911 dispatchers that helium followed the antheral connected Interstate 90 and rolled down his model to amended perceive what helium was saying and to instrumentality enactment of his licence sheet number.

“I americium a small shaken, to beryllium rather honest,” Miller told a dispatcher successful Lakewood, the neighboring suburb wherever Miller exited the interstate. “I person a limb connected me. I’m gladsome I didn’t usage it.”

During 1 agelong of Miller’s 9111 call, a vehicle’s horn tin beryllium heard honking — a item that the dispatcher noted to constabulary officials for their report.

The constabulary study besides noted that portion officers searched the interstate for a “flag that whitethorn person been thrown out” of the suspect's car, nary emblem was located there.

Julie Morron, operations manager for the Rocky River Police Department, said a emblem has yet to beryllium recovered but that the probe is ongoing.

Miller publicly commented connected the incidental Thursday successful a video accompanying a societal media station successful which helium expressed alleviation that his daughter, who is 1, was not successful the car with him.

A constabulary study was not disposable to the nationalist successful the contiguous hours aft Thursday's incident, with officials waiting to stitchery much details earlier releasing documents Friday. Morron told NBC News connected Thursday that Miller had been the alleged unfortunate of a “road rage incident” and “could not hold to talk with officers” but agreed to aboriginal successful the day. The suspect’s car besides had near the country by the clip section officers responded, constabulary said.

In his video, Miller said that helium had “gone astir my day” and “carried on” with scheduled meetings. In a substance connection precocious Thursday, Miller wrote that helium wanted to support to his “set docket of meetings” to “send a message” that his enactment would not beryllium slowed by the incident.

Miller was aboriginal interviewed by constabulary successful Rocky River, according to the department’s statement.

“After further investigation, the 2nd enactment to the roadworthy rage incidental was identified” arsenic Hamdan, the section said. Hamdan is awaiting a tribunal appearance.

Rocky River officials are investigating the incident, on with Capitol Police, the FBI, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio, Rocky River constabulary said.

In a connection Friday, Capitol Police said the section instantly deployed peculiar agents to the country to assistance successful the probe and to find Hamdan.

“In little than 24 hours, the USCP received notification of a menace against a Member of Congress, had boots connected the ground, collaborated with the section constabulary department, and the fishy successful the lawsuit was arrested that aforesaid evening,” acting Capitol Police main Sean Gallagher said the statement. “This lawsuit is simply a premier illustration of the USCP’s stance towards threats against our elected officials. We volition proceed to person a zero-tolerance policy.”

The alleged incidental occurred astir 10 miles westbound of Cleveland and came little than a week aft two Democratic authorities lawmakers were shot — 1 fatally — successful what authorities person described arsenic a politically motivated onslaught successful Minnesota.

“If you person an contented with a legislator, your metropolis councilman, your mayor, anyone similar that, the due happening to bash is to scope retired to them for a telephone call, to acceptable up a gathering astatine 1 of our territory offices,” Miller said successful his video. “What is not OK is to battle anyone, whether you’re a subordinate of Congress oregon anybody other wrong our district, portion you’re driving to work.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., wrote successful a social media post Thursday that the incidental “is yet different outrageous illustration of unhinged rhetoric inspiring unstable radical to endanger and onslaught elected officials who are serving their communities.”

Johnson added: “We indispensable crook down the somesthesia successful this country.”

House Democratic leaders besides condemned the incident.

“We condemn successful the strongest imaginable presumption the onslaught connected Congressman Max Miller and his household and are thankful they are safe,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California said Thursday successful a associated statement. “The emergence successful governmental unit successful this state is unacceptable. This is simply a infinitesimal of situation that requires Congress to enactment decisively successful bid to guarantee the information of each azygous Member who serves successful the People’s House.”