Las Vegas police arrest one suspect in Uber assault

San Francisco police announced Thursday the arrest of a suspect who allegedly assaulted an Uber driver on Sunday. A video of the incident has been widely shared.

Authorities said the Las Vegas Police Department was able to apprehend 24-year-old Malaysia King on an arrest warrant for her connection to the assault. A second suspect, 24-year-old Arna Kimiai, remains outstanding, but communicated through her legal counsel Thursday afternoon that she plans to turn herself in to the San Francisco Police Department.

King faces a number of charges, including assault with a caustic chemical, assault and battery, conspiracy and violation of health and safety code.

On Sunday at around 1:16 p.m., officers arrived at San Bruno Avenue and Bacon Street on a reported aggravated assault. Uber driver Subhakar Khadka told police he had been attacked by two females he had picked up at approximately 12:45 pm. at the intersection of San Bruno Avenue and Felton Street. In total, Khadka had picked up three passengers.

Police said the driver stopped and ended the ride when he noticed one of the passengers was not wearing a mask. The driver told the passengers that he could not continue unless all of the passengers were wearing  masks, as is Uber policy.

The dash camera video shows two of the women cough at Khadka. One of the passengers then grabs his phone and his mask off his face, which she then threw back toward him. He was able to get his phone back. Authorities said while the passengers exited the vehicle, one of suspects sprayed what is believed to be pepper spray into an open window of the vehicle.

Khadka said the women also used racial slurs against him.

Lt. Tracy McCray, who heads SFPD’s Robbery Detail, said in a statement:

“The behavior captured on video in this incident showed a callous disregard for the safety and wellbeing of an essential service worker in the midst of a deadly pandemic.”

McCray said she is glad to hear that the second suspect plans to turn herself in.

A GoFundMe was set up for Khadka to make up for lost wages due to the strong chemical smell that needed to be cleaned from his vehicle. Nearly $64,000 had been raised by Thursday night.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.