A seemingly minor disagreement over car temperature spiraled into a chaotic altercation between an Atlanta sports reporter and her Uber driver — one that now involves assault charges, viral videos, and dueling accusations.
Tabitha Turner, who covers the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks and WNBA’s Atlanta Dream, was on her way home from Hartsfield–Jackson Airport on June 21 when she says things turned ugly during her Uber ride. According to Turner’s attorney, she had requested Uber Comfort and politely asked for the windows to be rolled up and the air conditioning turned on due to the heat. But what followed was anything but a smooth ride.
The driver, Mericole Smith, allegedly grew irritated and pulled over on the expressway, demanding that Turner exit the car. When Turner refused — reportedly saying she would only leave if the ride was refunded — Smith allegedly pepper-sprayed her inside the vehicle.
Turner’s attorney claims the driver not only sprayed her but yanked out some of her hair. Police responding to the incident found both women accusing each other of assault. Turner was said to have scratched Smith in what she described as self-defense.
But Smith is telling a different story — and she took it to TikTok.
In a video posted the next day, Smith said she did roll up the windows and turn on the A/C but left them “cracked slightly.” She claimed Turner became “irate in the back seat” and refused to calm down. According to Smith, when she pulled over and told Turner to get out, Turner allegedly reached for something in her bag that appeared to be a weapon.
“So I proceeded to grab my mace,” Smith said in the video. “I maced the f— out of her in self-defense.”
Smith also alleged that Turner tried to gouge her eye out, resulting in injuries that required stitches — which she showed in the video. Turner later said the video triggered online harassment and even threats, adding that people began contacting her employer.
“I just wanted to go home and see my daughter,” Turner said through tears at a press conference.
Smith, meanwhile, defended her actions and denied ever attacking a passenger unprovoked. “This is how I pay for school,” she said. “I just wanted her out of the car.”
Smith has been charged with misdemeanor battery and simple battery. The incident remains under investigation.
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: thedailycrime1
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://thedailycrime.org and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.
