According to reports, a 49-year-old man, later identified as Danny, is facing serious allegations after being accused of posing as an Uber driver to kidnap and assault a tourist. The case has raised significant concerns over the safety of rideshare services and the tactics used by predators to exploit unsuspecting victims. On January 12th, a woman experienced every traveler’s worst nightmare when she was allegedly picked up by Danny, who tricked her into believing he was her Uber driver.
According to the arrest affidavit, the victim was waiting for a ride that a friend had booked for her to take her back to her rental apartment. Danny was driving a car similar to the one she was expecting, and he reportedly convinced her to get into his vehicle by urging her to “get in, get in.” However, rather than transporting her to her intended destination just minutes away, Danny drove the victim over 20 minutes to a “pay by the hour” motel. The victim recounted waking up hours later naked at the motel, with no recollection of what had happened earlier. She believes she was drugged by Danny, leading to her subsequent disorientation and vulnerability.
During a probable cause hearing, the victim, whose identity has not been revealed, said she is suffering from bodily injury as a result of this incident, “I have bodily injury. I don’t know what they did to me. I have bruises.” She expressed uncertainty about the full extent of what had been done to her during the hours she was incapacitated, but claims she was ѕехuаllу assaulted and that her card was used by the alleged attacker to pay for the motel and to fill up his tank.
Danny now faces charges of credit card fraud and fraudulent use of personal identification, with additional probable cause for kidnapping being recognized by the judge. The judge has issued a no-contact order, prohibiting Danny from contacting the victim. Moreover, law enforcement officials are investigating the possibility that this was not an isolated incident, suggesting that Danny may have targeted other women in a similar manner. Authorities have appealed to the public for anyone with information relating to the case or other potential victims to call 911. Uber has responded to the incident with a statement condemning the “sickening behavior” and confirming that Danny’s access to the rideshare platform has been revoked. They have also pledged their support for the ongoing law enforcement investigation.
