Two Arrests In Liquor Store Attacks

Nov. 29 - BCN -- Oakland Deputy Police Chief Howard Jordan said today that two men have been arrested in connection with vandalism incidents at two West Oakland liquor stores late last Wednesday night.

Jordan identified the suspects as 19-year-old Yusef Bey IV and 73-year-old Donald Eugene Cunningham.

Jordan said he doesn't know whether the men are affiliated with Your Black Muslim Bakery, an Oakland-based commercial business founded in the late 1960s by Yusef Bey, who was a follower of the Nation of Islam. Bey died of cancer two years ago.

According to Jordan, in the vandalism incidents at the New York Market at 3446 Market St. and the San Pablo Liquor Store at 2363 San Pablo Ave., a group of about 11 black men dressed in business suits and bow ties entered the stores and asked why a Muslim-owned store would sell alcoholic beverages when it is against the teachings of Islam to do so.

Although members of the Nation of Islam are known for wearing business suits and black bow ties, Jordan said Monday that the people responsible for the vandalism incidents are not affiliated with the Nation of Islam.

An employee at Your Black Muslim Bakery at 5836 San Pablo Ave. in Oakland who was reached by phone today declined to comment on the arrests of Bey and Cunningham and would not say whether Bey is related to the business's founder.

The employee said "No arrests have been made," and added that the company's lawyer has told employees not to speak to reporters.

Jordan said Yusef Bey IV was booked this afternoon and has been released on $200,000 bail. Cunningham is still being questioned by police, he said.

Bey and Cunningham are being held on charges of making terrorist threats, felony vandalism, conspiracy and robbery.

The two are part of a group of six men for whom arrest warrants were issued earlier today. Jordan said he hopes the other four men turn themselves in to police.

According to Jordan, police still haven't determined whether the vandalism incidents are connected to an arson fire that destroyed the contents of the New York Market early Monday or to the kidnapping of store employee Abdel Hamden.

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