EXCLUSIVE: Man allegedly beaten up for taking photos of cab crash in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- A man says he was beaten up for taking a picture of a San Francisco accident, and he has the video to prove it. On Tuesday, a cab driver jumped the curb on Market at Sutter.

A shoe shine man is in fair condition and his assistant in critical condition at SF General Hospital.

Peter Muller was doing what a lot of us do these days when we see something -- taking a picture with his cellphone. For some reason, a group of people nearby didn't like it. Now, all three suspects could be facing misdemeanor battery charges.

Moments after a cab jumped the curb Tuesday on Market Street at Sutter Street you can dozens of people on the corner taking pictures and video.

"I was curious and I wanted to check it out," said Muller. "I think it was just two pictures and all of a sudden I had this girl in my face yelling and screaming at me and honestly my first reaction was excuse me, like, what?"

Initially Muller says he walked away, then walked back.

That's where the video picks up. You can see a heated verbal argument. At first the man in the group pulls the women back.

That's when Muller said one last sentence before turning away again. When he did, the man punched the back of his head.

"I'm still in shock about it," he said. "At what point does it become okay to attack someone for taking a photo."

A shoe shine man whose hip was broken in the accident spoke to our sister station ABC7 News from his hospital bed Thursday.

"It could've been worse," said Saleem Bey.

As police responded the cab accident, other people were responding to the fight. One of the women continued kicking Muller, even as he pinned the man to the ground.

On the video you can hear someone say, "Police, can we get a cop over her?"

As Muller called for help, the person taking the video went downstairs.

"I heard someone say, 'Hey look I have a video,'" said Muller. "And immediately I'm like, 'Oh my God, thank you.'"

Muller took a picture of the three people cuffed. San Francisco police say they were cited for misdemeanor battery and released.

Muller has scrapes on his arm and a possible concussion.

He says he's already had the prescription sunglasses he was wearing fixed.

"I think it's a little funny that someone took a video, which ends up really helping me, but the whole root of the problem stemmed from taking video or taking a photo of something that happened," he said.