Full Notification

On March 11, 2024, around 8:30 pm, Novato Police Dispatch received a transferred 911 call from the California Highway Patrol Dispatch Center. Dispatchers learned that a member of the Islamic Center of North Marin, who was preparing to celebrate the first day of Ramadan, had been pepper sprayed by a suspect who potentially possessed a firearm in his bag. The suspect fled on foot after the assault. Upon arrival, Officers set up a perimeter in the 7000 block of Redwood Blvd. With assistance from California Highway Patrol’s air unit, they searched for the suspect while the victim was interviewed and received medical treatment. The victim was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries. The suspect was not immediately located.
 
The victim reported the suspect, who carried a bag into the center, exposed what appeared to be a firearm within. The victim attempted to restrain the suspect and keep him from the bag. During the struggle, the suspect used pepper spray to assault the victim, grabbed the bag, and fled. This incident was captured on surveillance video recording.
 
The investigation revealed that David Margoliash, a 48-year-old San Rafael resident, had visited the Islamic Center. With additional investigative leads and the assistance of Marin law enforcement agencies, Novato Police detectives located and arrested Margoliash this morning on March 12, 2024.

Following his arrest, NPD detectives served a search warrant at his residence in San Rafael. Evidence was located which further implicated him in this crime. No firearm was located at this time. Margoliash was booked into the Marin County Jail on charges of unlawful possession of pepper spray and disrupting a religious ceremony. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to support any hate crime-related charges, and it does not appear the Center was explicitly targeted.
 
Novato Police Department is committed to protecting the rights of our community members to worship peacefully, safely, and without fear. We work closely with local religious leaders to partner on safety strategies.
 
We thank the California Highway Patrol, San Rafael Police Department, and Marin County Sheriff's Office for their assistance with this investigation.
 
Community members with information about this incident are encouraged to call the Novato Police Department at 415-897-4361 and reference Case #24-0799.