Arab fest volunteer testifies

Missionaries made him nervous, he says

A Dearborn Arab International Festival volunteer who filed a complaint against four Christian missionaries accused of inciting a crowd while evangelizing at the event testified Wednesday that he felt intimidated by the group.

Roger Williams, a festival volunteer from Florida, told police he was being harassed by a film crew.

“They were making me nervous, and I felt intimidated,” Williams said at the trial for the missionaries in 19th District Court in Dearborn.

Cpl. Brian Kapanowski told jurors Wednesday he received the complaint from Williams at the June 18 festival.

“I accompanied Williams to identify them,” Kapanowski said. “It is my duty to investigate all criminal complaints.”

Nabeel Qureshi of Virginia, Negeen Mayel of California and Paul Rezkalla and David Wood, both of New York, were charged with breach of peace.

Mayel also was charged with failure to obey a police officer’s order.

“I asked her to put down the camera, and she was backing up away from me,” Kapanowski said. “When someone is a subject of an investigation, they have to stop what they’re doing and answer my questions.”

About 15 minutes later, Qureshi, Wood and Rezkalla were arrested.

Williams’ complaint was the only one police received, Kapanowski said.

Robert Muise, attorney for the missionaries, showed jurors segments of a video of Williams interacting with Qureshi and another volunteer.

Williams said he was having a pleasant conversation with the other volunteer when Qureshi interrupted. Williams said he told Qureshi, “You don’t have to worry about me messing with him. I’m going to mess with you.”

“I was out of line saying that statement,” Williams said. “They were not doing anything illegal, but I still felt threatened.”

The trial continues today before Judge Mark Somers.

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