Charges have been upgraded to include aggravated assault and false imprisonment against a man accused of attacking a food delivery driver, according to police.
Rick Painter, 54, allegedly grabbed the driver by her head scarf and tried to strangle her, the woman told Channel 2 Action News.
Sonya King, who works for DoorDash, said she was making a delivery at a house on South Grand Avenue in northwest Atlanta when Painter told her to leave the food on the counter. She said he then told her he’d give her a cash tip as she was headed for the door.
While going through his wallet, he allegedly said, “Oh, and by the way, I’m Jesus” before coming up behind her and grabbing her niqab, a veil worn by some Muslim women in public.
"He's grabbing me and trying to choke me with my own niqab,” King said. “I kept telling that man I've got kids. In the midst of me fighting him, he's grabbing my head. He thought he was Jesus, but Jesus wouldn't do that to nobody."
King fought back and was able to get away from the man. She called 911 and police arrested Painter and charged him initially with battery.
Painter was being held Friday in the Fulton County jail.
About the Author
