GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Michigan police are looking for witnesses to a possible hate crime against a taxi cab driver in downtown Grand Rapids.
The Grand Rapids Police Department says the taxi driver, Yemaj Adem, was picking up five women just before 2:30 a.m. Saturday when a man also entered his vehicle.
GRPD Sgt. Terri Dixon said that about a mile into the ride, the women asked to get out because the male passenger made them uncomfortable.RELATED: Pasco teacher on leave following Donald Trump-related comment toward students
The suspect then asked the driver to take him to another location. When the driver told him it would cost him more money, police say the suspect punched the driver in the head and face while repeatedly yelling, “Trump.”
“I’m an African-American and just, the hate — I didn’t expect it. They say something, but a punch is something new to me. I’ve never been attacked since I was doing this almost five years now,” said Adem, who is originally from Ethiopia but is a naturalized American citizen.
In police video recorded after the passenger’s arrest, the suspect can be heard off-camera repeatedly saying racial slurs about the victim, who was talking to officers.RELATED: Ryan says Trump agrees ‘no place’ for racism, hate crimes
Jail records show Jacob Holtzlander, 23, was arrested on Nov. 12 for misdemeanor assault, but released from jail the same day. It’s not yet clear what actual charges Holtzlander will face as he has not yet been arraigned.
Adem explained Holtzlander seemed drunk, and police believe alcohol was a factor in the incident.
Holtzlander’s mug shot shows blood on his face. Adem said he did not retaliate. He said he saw the suspect was still agitated while in the back of the police cruiser and thinks may have hit his head while acting violently.
Efforts on Thursday to get comment from Holtzlander were unsuccessful.
Police hope they can find enough evidence to add a charge of ethnic intimidation against the suspect, but they need the help of the five women who left the cab.
“At this point, we believe they were not together, that the females entered the cab on their own accord and that our male jumped into the cab really to just join them, but we do not believe they know each other,” Dixon said. “Our goal is to get a better picture or full picture of what took place prior to the assault and they might be able to provide that testimony.”RELATED: USF Police investigate racist, threatening graffiti
The women are encouraged to call police at (616) 456.3829.
Adem told 24 Hour News 8 the incident has him on edge but he’s still willing to help people get home safe every night.
“You never know who you got in the car, so now I just get ready and be aware of it. I’m proud of who I am and where I’m from. I don’t have any shame of it. I’m proud of being an Ethiopian. I’m proud of being a citizen. I’m proud of being an American,” he said.
There have been reports across the country of more cases of ethnic intimidation and hate speech in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s win
