Man Charged With Hate Crime For Threatening Muslim Lyft Driver

BLOOMINGDALE, IL -- A Bloomingdale man has been charged with a hate crime after police say he threatened a female Muslim Lyft driver early Friday. Police say Steven McCuiston, 59, told his Lyft driver, “Just because you’re a Muslim, I’m gonna kill you and snap your neck.”

According to police, McCuiston got into the Lyft ride just before 2 a.m. and started to shout racial slurs at the woman who was driving. He then threatened to snap the victim's neck and tried to punch her, she told police, ultimately hitting her in the shoulder.

Police say McCuiston also ripped the outside and inside door handles off the Lyft driver's vehicle.

DuPage County State's Attorney called the alleged actions "despicable." He added, " “Hate crimes and the accompanying prejudice have no place in a civilized society and anyone accused of such behavior will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law."

McCuiston has been charged with one felony count of hate crime and a misdemeanor count of criminal damage to property. He is set to appear in court again on April 1.