Ashley Sharpton, the daughter of Al Sharpton, was arrested for allegedly attacking a taxi driver and stealing his keys while she was celebrating her 30th birthday with friends
A daughter of the Reverend Al Sharpton has been arrested after a taxi driver accused her of snatching his car keys and tossing them away, police say.
Ashley Sharpton has been released on an appearance ticket after her arrest in New York City around 3.30am Saturday, police say.
The 30-year-old was arrested on charges including petty larceny.
Ashley was celebrating her birthday with friends. The New York Post reports that she and three of her friends had directed the cabbie, who the Post identified as Georges Coly, to drive around Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
After Coly pulled over to ask for a specific direction, Sharpton allegedly became physical.
A video recorded by one of Sharpton’s friends allegedly shows her punching Coly.
She also took the keys out of his taxi cab’s ignition and left the vehicle with them, Coly told police.
He told the New York Post: ‘I followed her for over a block begging for my keys back and I had to step in front of her and ask.’
Sharpton, pictured with her father, allegedly punched a taxi driver and also took his keys out his car’s ignition and left the vehicle with them. Charges brought against Sharpton include petty larceny
The Reverend Al Sharpton tweeted on the morning of September 8 about his youngest daughter’s birthday. She was arrested around 3am on September 9
Ashley’s lawyer, Michael Hardy, says ‘she committed no violation of the law’. He says if prosecutors bring charges when she goes to court this fall, she’ll vigorously fight them.
Ashley turned 30 on September 8 and had been celebrating the special occasion since September 7.
Earlier in the day, the Reverend Al Sharpton tweeted: ‘Happy Birthday to my youngest, Ashley. A strong black woman and committed activist. So proud to be your Dad.’
Civil rights activist Al Sharpton’s youngest daughter is an activist herself. She also founded an entertainment and production company.
Al Sharpton has another daughter named Dominique.