San Francisco police announce that the second suspect sought in assault and robbery of an Uber driver is now in custody 21-059(a)
The San Francisco Police Department tonight announced that 24-year-old Arna Kimiai, the second suspect in the March 7 aggravated assault and robbery of a 32-year-old Uber driver, is now in custody after surrendering to authorities in San Francisco.
Through her attorney, Ms. Kimiai had expressed her intention last Thursday afternoon to turn herself in, just hours after 24-year-old Malaysia King — another suspect in the same incident — was apprehended by officers from the Las Vegas Police Department. Ms. Kimiai was booked into San Francisco County Jail tonight on an arrest warrant for charges of robbery (211 PC), assault and battery (243.3 PC), conspiracy (182 PC), and violation of health and safety code (120295 H&S).
The original incident occurred on the afternoon of Sunday, March 7, 2021, shortly before San Francisco police officers assigned to Bayview Station responded to a reported aggravated assault at the intersection of San Bruno Avenue and Bacon Street. When officers arrived on scene at 1:16 p.m., they met with a 32-year-old male victim who said that he was assaulted by two female suspects. The victim, who identified himself as a rideshare operator, reported that he picked up three female passengers at San Bruno Avenue and Felton Street at approximately 12:45 p.m. A few minutes later, the driver stopped the vehicle and ended the ride when he realized that one of the passengers was not wearing a mask in compliance with state and local public health orders for COVID-19. The driver said that he could not continue the fare unless all passengers were wearing their masks.
An altercation ensued, largely captured on video, and one of the passengers reached over the driver from the rear seat area and stole the driver’s cellphone. The victim grabbed and eventually regained possession of his phone. The suspects then exited the vehicle, and another passenger reached into an open window and sprayed what is believed to be pepper spray into the car towards the driver. The suspects fled the scene. SFPD’s Robbery Unit took over the investigation and identified two suspects soon after, Ms. Kimiai and Ms. King.
Ms. King was arrested on an arrest warrant last Thursday, March 11, 2021, for the following charges: assault with a caustic chemical (244 PC), assault and battery (243.3 PC), conspiracy (182 PC), and violation of health and safety code (120295 H&S).
While arrests have been made, this remains an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the SFPD Tip Line at (415) 575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411 and begin the text message with SFPD.
About the San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department stands for safety with respect for all. Hailed by the New York Times as a major city department “where police reform has worked,” SFPD continues to break ground with its voluntary Collaborative Reform Initiative and its work on Mayor London Breed’s ambitious Roadmap for Police Reforms. Since 2018, the department has worked in partnership with the California Department of Justice to implement 272 recommendations that aspire to make SFPD a national model of 21st Century policing. Follow our progress at SFPD reform webpage.