Homeless man acquitted after smashing Uber Prius with skateboard

A San Francisco man who smashed an Uber driver’s windshield by hurling a skateboard into the moving Prius was acquitted at trial by a jury that found he acted in self-defense, the city public defender’s office said.

If convicted, 49-year-old Martin Knaak faced up to a year in jail on charges of vandalism and resisting arrest in connection with the Dec. 6 incident in the Marina District.

But testimony from the defendant and cell phone video that appeared to back up his account of the confrontation, led to his acquittal Friday, his attorney said.

“As a crime victim, Mr. Knaak deserved every bit of the police response and protection that would have been afforded to a wealthy San Franciscan,” Public Defender Jeff Adachi said Monday. “What happened to him is a betrayal of justice. Fortunately, his public defender was able to end his nightmare.”

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http://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Homeless-man-acquitted-after-smashing-Uber-Prius-6096572.php