DaytonDailyNews.com

DAYTON — A can of pepper spray was found Tuesday, Sept. 30, near a local Islamic mosque evacuated Friday after a girl inside was sprayed with a chemical irritant.

Someone found the black can of pepper spray in a white and red bag near the Islamic Society of Greater Dayton, 26 Josie St., and called police, Lt. John Huber said.

Detectives are trying to lift fingerprints off the bag and can, Huber said.

He echoed police Chief Richard Biehl's comments that there is no evidence the 10-year-old girl was the victim of a hate crime.

"You have to have evidence of bias and right now we have none," Huber said.

The girl was watching children whose parents and relatives had gathered at the mosque to celebrate Ramadan when she noticed two men standing outside a basement window about 9:40 p.m., she told police.

One of the men then sprayed her through the open window, she said. The girl said her face was burning and she felt nauseous.

Another woman in the room felt nauseous and the mosque was evacuated.

HAZMAT crews called to the scene found no traces of chemicals in the mosque or on the girl.

A few of the 300 people celebrating the last 10 days of Ramadan with dinner and a prayer session were treated for eye irritation at the scene.

Islamic Society of Greater Dayton President Dr. Tarek Sabagh issued a written statement Tuesday that said the organization was cooperating with police.

"We ask the community to be patient and to refrain from speculation in this case while the investigation is being completed," Sabagh said. "We need to focus on the facts of this case and not let rumor and speculation take over."

He said he will not talk about the incident again until the investigation is completed.