Baltimore City prosecutors on Wednesday dropped assault charges filed by one of nine teens accused in the high-profile beating of a woman on a Baltimore City bus.
Nakita McDaniels, 15, on Friday filed second-degree assault charges against Sarah Kreager, 26 ? the woman bruised and beaten Dec. 4 on a Maryland Transit Administration bus ? alleging Kreager spit on her and punched her seven times while Kreager?s boyfriend, Troy Ennis, 30, yelled racial slurs and threatened to stab the students.
“After prosecutors reviewed the facts and evidence in this complaint, we decided to dismiss the case in the interest of justice,” said Joseph Sviatko, a spokesman for the Baltimore City State?s Attorney?s Office. “The facts as outlined in the statement could not be independently corroborated. Also taken into consideration was the long period oftime between the complaint and the incident.”
In Maryland anyone can file misdemeanor criminal charges against another person. Prosecutors then review the case and decide if it should go forward.
McDaniels? attorney, Kimberly Thomas, reacted with outrage to the prosecutors? quick decision.
“My client is being ignored,” she said. “This sends a message that a person can be hurt and their voice will be unheard. It?s clear the State?s Attorney?s Office didn?t investigate her complaint. To my knowledge, the State?s Attorney?s Office never interviewed my client or investigated her statements.”
She said McDaniels told her statements to police the day of the altercation.
McDaniels? claims were at odds with Kreager and police versions of events.
Kreager told police she was trying to find a seat ? and was repeatedly denied by the nine students, who then attacked her. Those students are charged as juveniles with assault.
The nine teens have a hearing scheduled for Friday.
Examiner Staff Writer Stephen Janis contributed to this story.
