TikToker denied bail after alleged Fresno hate crime: ‘I don’t think she’s safe,’ former roommate says

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – 28-year-old TikTok creator Simran Sharma was denied bail in her first appearance in Fresno County Superior Court on Friday following a series of events that has proven her to be a danger to herself and others, according to her former roommate.

Sharma was arrested after allegedly driving recklessly and trying to run over a man in Fresno and taking police on a high-speed chase earlier this month.

During her court appearance on Friday, Sharma pleaded not guilty and requested a pre-trial release. According to her attorney, Sharma had been receiving medication that she desperately needed but “is not receiving her medications in the jail,” Sharma’s attorney told the court.

However, the prosecution argued that Sharma’s behavioral pattern warranted the denial of bail.

According to the prosecution, Sharma was previously arrested in 2021 for trying to run over a field worker. Sharma had allegedly told police she was sexually assaulted by the field worker in the field before she was arrested and put on a mental health diversion.

The prosecution says Sharma was still on the same mental health diversion for the ongoing case in 2021 when she was arrested on Feb. 11, 2025.

According to the prosecution, during her arrest, Sharma made death threats and racist remarks directed at officers.

“The CHP officer, that arrested the defendant after the pursuit was an African-American gentleman,” the prosecution said. “She repeatedly called him a n—–.”

The judge denied Sharma’s plea for bail and referred Sharma to Fresno County Jail’s medical services to assess what medications Sharma may be missing.

“It does appear that there are no conditions or combination of conditions that the court could impose that could ensure public safety,” Fresno County Superior Court Judge Charles Lee said.

Sharma’s former roommate Alec Cloney was present in the courtroom on Friday. Cloney says Sharma should not be released and is a danger to the community.

According to Cloney, she and Sharma met while both were receiving treatment and became friends, Cloney believed they were both on the road to recovery – but she says Sharma took a wrong turn.

“I thought, you know, she’s doing the right thing. She’s trying,” Cloney said. “But she’s abusing the system.”

Cloney says she was warned about Sharma, but didn’t believe anything was wrong until she became more aware of Sharma’s social media presence on TikTok.

“She’s on live all the time just trying to be in my room. I didn’t have any alone time,” Cloney said. “She constantly uses the N-word and threatens people [on social media.]”

Cloney says she’s not surprised Sharma was denied bail. She’s also not surprised at Sharma’s mental health defense.

“She has a way of manipulating and acting like, you know, she’s the good guy,” Cloney said. “I don’t think she’s safe to be around society. I really don’t think so.”