One woman was arrested and another agreed to give herself up after assaulting a San Francisco Uber driver who asked one of them to wear a mask during their ride, the police.
Malaysia King (24) was arrested in Las Vegas and charged with assault with a corrosive chemical, assault and battery, conspiracy and violation of health and safety code, according to a statement from the San Francisco Police Department.
A suspect, 24-year-old Arna Kimiai, has not yet been arrested this morning, a police spokeswoman said. Her lawyer told police on Thursday she was planning to surrender, according to the statement.
San Francisco police earlier said a 32-year-old Uber driver picked up three passengers in the Portola neighborhood of the city on Sunday, but ended their ride when one refused to wear a face mask, violating Uber’s policy. and California’s mandate over the entire mask.
The driver, Subhakar Khadka, 32, told NBC News that he had told one of the passengers that he would have to stop the ride if she did not have a mask to put on. He said he offered to bring them to a gas station so the passenger could buy a mask.
But in the time it took to get to the gas station, the passenger threatened him and said he could call family members to take care of me, Khadka said. He intimidated and said he asked the passengers to get out of the car. But he said they refused, prompting Khadka to turn on the dashcam in his car.
After the passengers refused to leave, he decided to bring them back to their pick-up point, Khadka said. While on their way, Khadka said they were arguing over the mask, the passengers were not wearing seat belts, and one opened a car door. Therefore, he said he stopped the car again.
“Luckily my camera worked … it recorded audio and recorded a video of the whole scene,” Khadka said.
According to Khadka, one of the passengers took out pepper spray and sprayed it in his car after unloading them.
Another passenger took Khadka’s cellphone out of his hands, but he was able to get it back, police said.
Several videos that circulated also showed the passengers tearing off the driver’s mask and coughing at him.
Khadka said the situation made him feel vulnerable.
“I could not do anything about it. I could not lay hands on them,” he said. “I could not challenge them orally.”
Dara Khosrowshahi, CEO of Uber, thanked the police for their ‘quick work and for standing up for drivers’.
‘Anti-Asian hatred and violence are shocking and heartbreaking – and it must stop. When one community is attacked, we are all attacked, “Khosrowshahi wrote on Twitter. Police do not say the assault is a hate crime.
An Uber statement added that all three passengers were banned from driving the platform, and that Uber supported Khadka. “When one community is attacked, we are all attacked,” the statement said.
Lt. Tracy McCray, who heads the robbery unit of the San Francisco police station, confirmed the sentiment.
“The behavior captured on video during this incident showed a sensitive disregard for the safety and well-being of an essential service worker amid a deadly pandemic,” McCray said. “We take this action very seriously in San Francisco, and we are committed to ensuring that justice is done in this case.”
“We are pleased to hear that Ms. Kimiai intends to do the right thing and hand her over to the nearest law enforcement agency, and we hope that will happen immediately,” McCray added.
The third passenger in the car was not considered a suspect. Police said the incident is still being investigated.
Attempts to reach King and Kimiai were unsuccessful on Friday morning.
