Police arrested a 26-year-old man early Sunday after he told a taxi driver to “go back to your own country” and beat him unconscious, causing the cab to drift out of control and strike several parked cars and an apartment building in the Magnolia neighborhood
The cab driver told police he picked up three men and a woman in Belltown just before 2 AM Sunday and drove them to the 4200 block of 27th Avenue West. The suspect gave the driver his credit card to pay for the trip and apparently became angry at how long the transaction took.
The suspect reportedly told the 34-year-old driver “you are a terrorist,” “you should go back to your own country,” and “I will shoot you,” before leaning across the seat to repeatedly punch him in the face. The driver lost consciousness and his foot slipped off the brake, causing the cab to roll downhill, strike several cars and eventually stop after hitting the stairs of an apartment building.
Once the car stopped, the driver regained consciousness, but the suspect continued hitting him and the two other male passengers joined in, the victim told police. Neighbors came out of their homes to investigate the noise and the suspect and other passengers fled the scene.
The suspect returned to the scene while police were there. He admitted to being involved, but claimed self-defense. He was identified by the driver and police arrested and booked the suspect into King County Jail for investigation of malicious harassment. The cab driver was treated at the scene by medics. The incident is being investigated.