Woman Attacks 'Survivor' Contestant With Metal Pipe Outside Pilates Class: Police

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 25-year-old woman was charged in the attack and injury of three people in Santa Monica last week, including a Pilates instructor and former "Survivor" contestant.

The attacks happened Oct. 14 near 2nd Street and Arizona Avenue, according to Lt. Rudy Flores of the Santa Monica Police Department.

Michelle Yi, 37, a Pilates trainer and former "Survivor" cast member, sustained a 1-inch laceration to her eyebrow after being attacked by a woman wielding a pipe in Santa Monica last week.

An unidentified man and an unidentified woman were also attacked, police said. They each had scratches to the face and head area and refused medical treatment, police said.

Alexadria Diaz, who was listed as a missing person out of the Fresno area, was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon by the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office-Airport Office on Monday.

Diaz remains in custody on $110,000 bail. She was scheduled to appear at LAX Superior Court on Nov. 16.

Yi is a trainer with Pilates Platinum, according to the company's website. She was also a contestant on "Survivor" in 2007 in Haiti.

Yi was opening the Pilates studio Thursday morning when she asked Diaz to leave the area, police said.

Diaz is accused of striking Yi in the face with a metal pipe and poking her in the arm with a reciprocating saw blade, police said.

Later that morning, a caller reported that a woman was carrying a baton and hitting cars in the area, Flores said.

Police saw a woman hitting a man with two hollow metal pipes. Diaz was taken into custody by officers without incident, police said.

Officers later found a third victim.

Police said Diaz has undefined mental illness and are investigating whether she was off her medication. Her family told police they were concerned about her safety, Flores said.

Police denied several media reports that the attacks were racially motivated.

"There is no indication whatsoever of this being a hate crime," Flores told Patch.

Fox11 and the New York Post incorrectly reported that Yi was stabbed and that Diaz was homeless, police said. She is not homeless and was reported missing by her family in Fresno on Oct. 13.

Santa Monica police asked anyone with information to contact the Criminal Investigations Division at 310-458-8451 or the watch commander at 310-458-8427.

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