The assistant prosecuting attorney stated they’ve examined the driver’s dashcam recordings and cannot confirm with absolute certainty that Ali assaulted the passenger.
This is a surprising development, considering authorities initially asserted having strong evidence pointing to Ali’s involvement. Their case was supported by GPS data, and allegations that Ali prematurely completed the ride before driving the woman far from her destination, where her family later discovered her unclothed in Ali’s vehicle.
The police report details that Ali, an Uber driver, picked up an inebriated woman from a bar in Olympia on a Saturday morning.
Concerned when she didn’t arrive home, the woman’s family traced her whereabouts to a parking lot near the Nisqually River, as mentioned in the report.
Upon arriving at the scene, the father and other relatives reportedly found the woman with no clothes, while Ali seemed to be readjusting his pants as he clambered over the car’s center console, according to the sheriff’s report.
As covered by KOMO News, during the altercation, a family member discharged a firearm while confronting the Uber driver. Luckily, no one was hit by the gunfire, as stated in the records.
Nearby residents alerted authorities after hearing the gunshots, leading deputies to intercept Ali’s car as he attempted to exit the vicinity. The report describes Ali as bleeding significantly from injuries to his head and hands, yet he was eager to leave and initially declined medical care.
Prosecutors pointed out in court that it seemed odd for him to refuse treatment for such severe wounds.
In reaction to Ali’s arrest in June, Uber conveyed the following statement to KOMO:
“Such behavior is unacceptable and doesn’t belong in our society or on Uber’s platform. We treat incidents of such a nature with utmost seriousness and suspended the driver’s access immediately upon learning about the situation. A dedicated team is ready to aid law enforcement with their inquiries.”
KOMO has sought further comments from Uber regarding the dismissal of charges.
Ali was allowed bail in June, securing his release after paying the $100,000 bond.
Edited by: Ali Musa
Axadle international–Monitoring
