PORTLAND, Ore. — Comedian Katt Williams didn't show up for the start of his trial in Portland Monday morning on assault charges, and Multnomah County Judge Kenneth Walker has issued a warrant for his arrest.
Jury selection for Williams' trial was scheduled to begin Monday.
Micah Sierra “Katt” Williams pleaded not guilty to fourth-degree assault, a misdemeanor, on Oct. 8, 2018 after he allegedly assaulted a town car driver, 38-year-old Wali Kanani, in Portland three days earlier.
According to a $76,000 lawsuit filed by the Kanani in Multnomah County Circuit Court, he picked up Williams on the night of Oct. 5, 2018 at Portland International Airport. Williams arrived by private jet and was scheduled to be a part of Nick Cannon’s ‘Wild ‘N Out Live" concert at the Moda Center that night, TMZ reported.
Williams insisted that his dog, a large German shepherd, ride in the front seat with Kanani, the suit says. When Kanani told Williams that he wasn't comfortable with that, Williams called him vulgar names and punched him in the face.
Kanani ran toward the airport terminal, but Williams chased him and ordered his dog to chase him as well, the suit says. Kanani made it into the terminal and locked the door before the two could catch up with him. Williams left in another car and Kanani called 911.
According to the lawsuit, Kanani suffered a broken tooth, swelling in his face and tinnitus in his ear.