Christians Under Attack

 

A young Black Muslim leader already charged with vandalizing a West Oakland liquor store was jailed Friday for allegedly using his BMW to run down a bouncer after being thrown out of a San Francisco strip club, police said.

Yusuf Bey IV, 20, son of the late Black Muslim leader Yusuf Bey, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder and aggravated assault after he allegedly ran over one bouncer and tried to hit a second with his car outside the New Century Theater on Larkin Street, authorities said. He was being held without bail.

Bey went to the club with four other men Thursday night, authorities said.

"They basically were being entertained by the women and they sort of become a little rambunctious and the management tells them to tone it down,'' said Lt. Leroy Lindo of the police general work detail.

After another dispute involving the group in one of the club's upstairs private rooms, Bey and his friends asked for their room admission fee back and management agreed, Lindo said.

Back downstairs, Lindo said, one of Bey's friends tried to grope one of the dancers. "That's when the management said, 'It's time for you to go,' " he said.

"As they are leaving, one of the people in the group hauls off and hits a bouncer," Lindo said.

The ensuing fight spilled out onto the street, police said. Bey allegedly got into his car and hit one bouncer, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and barely missed a second.

Police found Bey and the car, with the personalized plate "DR BEY," in an alley a short time later. He was arrested at 12:35 a.m.

Bey was free on $90,000 bail in the Oakland liquor store case, in which he is accused of felony vandalism, false imprisonment and violating the civil rights of an employee of the San Pablo Liquor Market.

Investigators believe Bey was among about a dozen men wearing bow ties, dress shirts and jackets who entered the market shortly before midnight Nov. 23, identified themselves as Muslims angered that the owners were selling alcohol to African Americans, and smashed liquor bottles and knocked over shelves.

A second store was similarly attacked that night, but Bey is not charged in that case.

Two men have been convicted in the attacks and charges against another have been dropped. The cases against Bey and four other men are pending. Bey is due back in court May 12.

Bey's father founded Your Black Muslim Bakery in North Oakland more than 30 years ago. The elder Bey oversaw the bakery operation until his death in 2003. The younger Bey recently assumed leadership of the bakery and its related businesses.

The bakery and its affiliated businesses are not affiliated with the better-known Nation of Islam.

Calls to the bakery were referred to Bey's lawyer, Lorna Brown, who did not respond to messages left at her office.