Downtown Food Cart Assault, Harrassment Case Ends in Civil Compromise

Charges against Israel Elmasry, who allegedly doused customer in hot sauce dismissed in exchange for payment.

(Megan Nanna)
By Nigel Jaquiss

Islam El Masry, the owner of a downtown food cart called Small Pharoah's, saw criminal charges against him dropped today when his alleged victim agreed to allow the case against him to be civilly compromised.

El Masry faced misdemeanor charges of harassment and assault in the fourth degree after a June 6 incident in which he alleged threw a Gatorade bottle at a customer and doused her with Sriracha sauce.

A cell phone video showed El Masry cursing at Carlotta Washington, a black woman who attempted to buy her meal with quarters.

Related: Owner of Downtown Portland Food Cart Arrested For Assaulting Customer with Gatorade Bottle and Sriracha.

In exchange for a $1,000 payment from El Masry, Washington agreed to a civil compromise, which was granted by Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Leslie Roberts. The agreement absolves all parties from liability and prevents any charges related to the incident from being filed in the future.

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