FEDERAL WAY, Wash., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A Washington state man accused of beating a Sikh cabbie while shouting anti-Muslim slurs is facing a hate crime charge, police said.
Jamie W. Larson, 48, of Federal Way, 15 miles north of Tacoma, allegedly attacked the cab driver Oct. 17 after commenting on his turban, SeattlePI.com reported. Larson is accused of pulling out a portion of the man's beard and hitting him in the mouth, loosening one of his teeth. When police arrived, Larson allegedly continued on his anti-Muslim tirade, the online newspaper said.
Larson had been placed in the cab by Auburn police about 4:30 p.m. He allegedly had been too drunk to drive or walk home after being picked up by police and taken back to the station during an unrelated incident.
Larson was charged with malicious harassment under Washington's hate crime statute, court records show.
