Charges: Willmar man attacked cab driver because he was Somali

A Willmar man is accused of attacking a cab driver in St. Cloud because he is Somali.

Zachary Todd Degraw, 23, is charged in Benton County District Court with two misdemeanor counts of fifth-degree assault and one gross misdemeanor count of assault motivated by bias.

According to court documents, the incident happened around 2 a.m. on March 25. The cab driver, who is of Somali descent, told Benton County sheriff's deputies that he was transporting Degraw and a female passenger from downtown St. Cloud to Rollie's Rednecks and Longnecks, a bar east of St. Cloud.

The cab driver told deputies that suddenly, Degraw put his arm around the driver's neck and began to choke him. The cab driver said he was unable to breathe or call his dispatcher for help. He told deputies the cab was swerving from side to side on Highway 23.

The complaint states the driver slammed on his brakes and the cab came to a stop pointed toward the ditch. Degraw released his hold and the cab driver was able to call for help.

The female passenger told deputies that Degraw was racist and that he attacked and choked the driver.

When deputies questioned Degraw, he said he believed the cab driver was going to call someone of his own race. When deputies questioned his statement, Degraw reportedly said, "Well, he is Muslim." He denied choking the cab driver and also stated, "You tell me, do you not know what these Muslims will do with a white American girl?"

The complaint states that while riding in the back of a squad car Degraw asked a deputy if he was Muslim and if he trusted Muslims. He also told the deputy about how a Muslim had wronged him in the past.

Degraw's attorney, Robert Stoneburner, said he expects his client to plead not guilty. He said Degraw is not a racist or biased, and that alcohol may have played a significant role in the incident.

Degraw's next court hearing is May 4.