Additional Coverage:
- A father caught a ride share driver assaulting his daughter. He took matters into his own hands (newsbreak.com)
In Washington state, authorities are probing an incident involving an Uber driver who is accused of sexually assaulting a female rider during the weekend.
The driver, 58-year-old Ahmed Ali, is alleged to have attacked the woman, who was significantly inebriated, as he was supposed to be driving her home on a Saturday, as per the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials allege Ali manipulated the Uber app to falsely indicate the woman had been dropped off at her intended location in Thurston County, about an hour’s drive from Seattle. He then reportedly took her to an isolated area instead.
Concern arose when the woman did not return home as expected, leading her father to use her phone’s location services to find her at a popular fishing destination.
Upon his arrival, the woman’s father discovered her unclothed in the back of the Uber vehicle, with Ali allegedly adjusting his clothing in the driver’s seat, according to Fox13.
During the incident, gunfire is thought to have occurred, evidenced by the discovery of two shell casings at the scene. It remains uncertain who discharged the firearm. Reports indicate the victim’s family physically assaulted Ali following the encounter.
When Ali tried to drive away from the scene, sheriff’s deputies intervened, stopping and detaining him. Ali, who sustained injuries, received medical treatment before being charged with second-degree rape and first-degree kidnapping.
Uber has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the incident. The identities of the victim and her family have been withheld by the authorities.