A man who physically attacked a Black woman and hurled racist slurs at her agreed to pay a small settlement to have his charges dropped.
Islam El Masry, the owner of “Small Pharaoh’s Egyptian” agreed to pay Carlotta Washington $1,000 to have his harassment and fourth-degree assault charges dropped.
Masry sprayed Sriracha hot sauce in Washington’s eyes and drenched her with Gatorade. The assault happened after the customer tried to pay Masry in quarters for her lamb meal. The food cart owner apparently got upset and pushed the coins back at her. He then called her a “nigger” and threw a bottle her way which knocked the woman’s phone out of her hand. Washington recorded the entire incident.
“He did a bad thing, I hope he gets his life together, gets help for his anger and will think twice so he doesn’t assault and humiliate anyone else like he did to me,” Washington told Oregonlive on Monday. “But I have to forgive him because dragging this on, trying to sue him and holding grudges isn’t going to make me feel any better.”
The food cart owner was arrested after bystanders called the police. After being released from jail he uploaded two videos on YouTube apologizing for his racist behavior. He admitting to assaulting Washington and blamed it on his bad mood. He said he was stressed because of business fairs and his religious fast for Ramadan. He added that both parties were at fault.
Masry and Washington signed a civil compromise agreement which says neither person will acknowledge liability in the incident. The judged ordered that the charges be disbanded on Friday. The victim told the source she signed the agreement to move past the incident.
Washington said she plans on using the court money to replace the phone damage Masry caused and to re-crochet a shaw he ruined during the incident. She has yet to watch his YouTube videos he posted.
The victim noted, “I wish him the best, but I really just want to put this all behind me.”
