Not a hate crime? WTF?

  Oak Forest Cop Arrested in Attack on 2 Teens in California

The teens told police they were targeted because they were speaking Arabic.

Oak Forest, IL

By LAUREN TRAUT (Patch Staff) -  March 1, 2016 11:26 am ET

An Oak Forest police officer has been arrested in connection with the attack and stabbing of two teenagers in California.

Arthur Roman, 28, of Tinley Park, was arrested along with his 25-year-old brother Martin, and his brother's wife, Jessica, after attacking two teenagers who allege they were targeted because they were speaking Arabic, ABC-7 reports.

Karam Jarrah, 17, was stabbed twice on Sunday afternoon in the parking lot of a fitness center in Huntington Beach. He and his brother-in-law, Asem Dghem, were walking by a car in which the three suspects were sitting, when one commented, "What's up Obama bam?'" Jarrah told police.

Jarrah told police the confrontation escalated to violence, and Martin Roman pulled a knife and stabbed him.

Police are not able to confirm the attack was racially motivated. 

It is not being treated as a hate crime.