A 19-year-old year woman was charged Monday with felony assault and other crimes in an attack on a downtown Los Angeles street vendor earlier this month that was caught on video.
Harmunie Heaven Church was arrested Thursday. Arraignment was scheduled for later Monday.
Church was charged with felony assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, battery with serious bodily injury and vandalism causing $400 of more in damage. The charges include a special circumstances allegation of great bodily injury, which can increase penalties at sentencing.
It was not immediately clear whether Church has an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Video shared last weekend on social media showed the June 15 altercation at 7th Street and Figueroa. Police told NBCLA Thursday that Church initially approached the hot dog vendor — identified by her family as Arabelia Martinez — and asked to see a vending permit before an argument erupted.
In the video, a woman appeared to squirt what appears to be sauce onto hot dogs cooking on Martinez’s grill cart. The vendor appeared to throw some type of red or orange powder toward the woman.
The situation turned into a physical confrontation during which Martinez was taken to the ground. Witnesses rushed in to break up the fight.
The LAPD identified Church by videos she allegedly posted to social media, claiming to defend herself.
The vendor’s son, Constantino Garcia, said Martinez continues to suffer from severe headaches and pain throughout her body and that she may need treatment from a head specialist. He added that his mother is emotionally traumatized and is not expected to return to work soon.
In a video message, Martinez thanked the community for its support, saying she never imagined going through something like this.
NBCLA tried reaching the woman who police allege attacked Martinez before her arrest but were unable to do so.