Blogs Jul 14, 2014 at 1:26 pm

Report: Seattle Police Investigating Rape Allegation Against Uber Driver Say Uber Is Not Involved

Ansel Herz
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Comments

1
That would be one incredibly stupid driver to commit a crime against his passenger. A passenger that has his name/picture, vehicle make/model, and plate number.

There has got to be more to the story.
nador on July 14, 2014 at 1:44 PM Report this
2
@1 Yes, because there's no such thing as a criminal who doesn't think they'll be caught!
Solk512 on July 14, 2014 at 1:59 PM Report this
3
On busy nights some town car drivers will say they're Uber so that people will think its their car, and they will drive off. Could be anyone
madhat on July 14, 2014 at 2:01 PM Report this
4
If anything she probably thought he was an Uber driver because she was expecting one so he just went along with what she said. That makes the most sense I think.
North by Northwest on July 14, 2014 at 2:03 PM Report this
5
Or someone stole an Uber driver's phone and/or car and impersonated him.
Searailleur on July 14, 2014 at 2:07 PM Report this
6
I've always worried about this being a possibility. Licensed cab drivers go through extensive background checks and are continually regulated. I'm not sure about what the policy is for uber and lyft people but at the very least it creates a false sense of trust in a stranger. I just feel more comfortable in a licensed cab than some stranger with a smartphone app.
Jessica01 on July 14, 2014 at 2:08 PM Report this
7
@4: That's what I was thinking, which begs the question, how do you verify the car that picks you up is in fact an Uber driver?

Also, how would she have a receipt if this driver wasn't her Uber driver?
seandr on July 14, 2014 at 2:12 PM Report this
8
@7 When you hail an Uber on you phone a description of the make/model of the car, the driver's name and their picture appear. You can easily verify it's the right car by the make/model and the driver by both physical description and by asking them what their name is (this is how the driver identifies the passenger, by the way; by asking your name).
danewood on July 14, 2014 at 2:15 PM Report this
9
@7, @8, you are also told what the driver's license plate number is
pablissima on July 14, 2014 at 2:19 PM Report this
10
According to an update on CHS it was not an Uber driver. http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2014/0…
kristyjojo on July 14, 2014 at 2:20 PM Report this
11
Clearly a lot missing from this story. A 2am cab ride from a hotel to fiancée's apartment sounds weird to me. Conservative parents already staying at the apartment?
JonnoN on July 14, 2014 at 2:26 PM Report this
12
@10, don't expect an update from Ansel anytime soon. There's too much sensationalism to cash in on with the claim of it being an Uber driver.
Cato the Younger Younger on July 14, 2014 at 2:27 PM Report this
13
@11 What in the fuck does that even mean?
Solk512 on July 14, 2014 at 2:36 PM Report this
14
The KIRO link reports that police say she did use Uber, but the Uber driver did not attack her.
seatackled on July 14, 2014 at 2:42 PM Report this
15
Ummm...Ansel, the KIRO story you link to is titled, "Police: Woman was not raped by Uber driver".

And it was posted an hour and a half before you published your story....
Mr. Happy Sunshine on July 14, 2014 at 2:43 PM Report this
16
#JOURNALISM!
Jeff on July 14, 2014 at 2:45 PM Report this
17
Uber101 - how to verify the car you are getting into is the one you called. -

you call the drivers phone number on the several emails and/or texts you get. you watch the driver answer his phone and hear him talk to you while you are standing right next to his car.

its really pretty easy. and as safe as a cab.
Cassette tape fan on July 14, 2014 at 2:47 PM Report this
18
@15: KIRO's story changed after the update from police.
Ansel Herz on July 14, 2014 at 2:50 PM Report this
19
@18 And yet you left your headline up?
wxPDX on July 14, 2014 at 3:01 PM Report this
20
Of course an actual Yellow Cab driver was charged with sexual assault last week. Why no report Ansel?
on July 14, 2014 at 3:06 PM Report this
21
@19: The headline was updated, fair reader.
Ansel Herz on July 14, 2014 at 3:11 PM Report this
22
@20, can you link that for us? We'd love to point that out to Ansel. He's such an amazing reporter!!
Cato the Younger Younger on July 14, 2014 at 3:18 PM Report this
23
Why no report on this Anusel?

SEATTLE — A Yellow Cab driver faces charges of reaching into the backseat of his cab to sexually assault lone, young women he transported home late at night, King County Superior Court documents show.

According to court documents, on June 6, a 22-year-old woman called police to tell them that a Yellow Cab driver made sexual advances toward her while she was getting a ride.

Read more: http://q13fox.com/2014/07/10/seattle-yel…
on July 14, 2014 at 3:29 PM Report this
24
Felix Hernandez has been named to start the All-Star Game. Why no report on that, Ansel?
seatackled on July 14, 2014 at 3:33 PM Report this
25
Uber's still the worst.
fletc3her on July 14, 2014 at 3:36 PM Report this
26
@25 Really? Two weeks ago I had an Uber car show up at my door at 5am, 4 mins after I called for a car and got a ride to the airport for $32. Rode in a spotless Prius with a fine young gentlemen from Ethiopia.

With Yellow cab? Good luck getting a cab and it's $50 plus a tip.
on July 14, 2014 at 3:41 PM Report this
27
I wonder how many Seattle cab drivers have sexually assaulted passengers?

tkc on July 14, 2014 at 3:44 PM Report this
28
@6, Google "cab driver arrested" and see what pops up, whydontcha?
LJM on July 14, 2014 at 3:59 PM Report this
29
@13 not that it matters other than something being off about the story, but why was the victim staying at a hotel and not her fiancé's apartment, but then decided to go there at 2am?
JonnoN on July 14, 2014 at 5:33 PM Report this
30
No über driver accused of rape?

Headline!

Yellow Cab driver charged with two sexual assaults?

Nothing from Ansel?

Could you be more obvious in your biases?
on July 14, 2014 at 6:03 PM Report this
31
@29: You're right--it doesn't matter. There are lots of reasons why she might not stay at his place, and many other reasons why she might go there at 2 am.

I'm sure, with a little imagination, you might think of a few.
clashfan on July 14, 2014 at 7:56 PM Report this
32
@17, et al - Safer than a cab, really. When I hail a cab on the street, I don't have an electronic record of the driver's name, number, and VIN. I know cab drivers have their license posted in the car but it isn't easy to read from the back and I don't think many of us are in the habit of writing that info down.

Anyway, I hope the perp is caught and locked up soon!
Baby Blue on July 15, 2014 at 6:35 PM Report this
33
@2 A better analogy would be a criminal that commits a crime and then makes sure to leave his/her identification with picture and contact info at the scene of the crime. On purpose.
nador on July 15, 2014 at 6:44 PM Report this
34
Jessica01 you speak from a point of negligence. If you hail a cab or even call one there is no record kept of whom they picked up and where they went. Yet with uber or lyft you have all the driver and vehicle information along with pick up and drop off info not to mention a gps track of the drivers movements in their vehicle for the entire time. So which would you rather get into a car with a stranger that is being tracked or one that isn't. Btw Uber and lyft drivers are also background checked through the same system as the taxi driver both done by the companies they work for not the govt.
on July 16, 2014 at 9:14 AM Report this
35
If people are trying to bring you down it only means that you are above them.. Keep calm and stay who you are. YOU are Awesome! I suggest this website to you guys.. This stuff is really helpful when it comes to our safety. check this out--http://safekidzone.com/
coljan on July 17, 2014 at 7:20 PM Report this

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