One of the three women captured in a now viral video that allegedly assaulted an Uber driver because of a mask was arrested, police said, and another plans to surrender.
Malaysia King, 24, was arrested Thursday in Las Vegas, San Francisco police said. Arna Kimiai, also 24, told authorities through her lawyer that she plans to surrender “soon,” officials said.
King, Kimiai and a third woman were arrested by Uber driver Subhakar Khadka, 32, on Sunday in the Bayview neighborhood of San Francisco, police said. The driver ended the trip minutes later because one of the women was not wearing a mask, officials said.
In a video captured by a camera in Khadka’s car that has now gone viral, one of the women grabbed her cell phone. Khadka managed to get his phone back and passengers got out of his car before spraying it with pepper spray through the window, officials said. The video also showed one of the women coughing over the driver and ripping his mask off his face.
King faces charges of assault with a caustic chemical, assault and battery, conspiracy and violations of a health code.
Both Uber and Lyft suspended the passenger seen coughing on the Subhakar. A GoFundMe configured for the driver raised more than $ 60,000.
In a statement on Thursday, San Francisco police lieutenant Tracy McCray said Kimiai should surrender “promptly”.
“The behavior captured on video in this incident showed a cruel disregard for the safety and well-being of an essential service worker in the midst of a deadly pandemic,” said McCray. “We take this conduct very seriously in San Francisco and are committed to ensuring that justice is done in this case.”
Michael Williams is a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected]