Uber Driver Charged With Assault In College Park

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (WJZ) -- An Uber driver is facing charges of assault and kidnapping in College Park.

Police say Westagne Pierre was arrested Thursday, October 27, after being caught on camera on October 18 taking an intoxicated and seemingly unresponsive woman who he had been driving into a hotel room in College Park.

Police say the woman's friend requested an Uber ride to get her home because she had been drinking. It was requested that the driver take the intoxicated woman to her home in Fairfax, Virginia.

The driver did go into Virginia, however, Prince George's County Police say, the driver took the woman back into Maryland.

"He then drove the victim from Virginia to a hotel in the College Park area, where a hotel room was rented," said Officer Tyler Hunter, Prince George's County Police.

There, police say the driver Pierre was seen on camera checking into a College Park Budget Inn hotel, even checking in with his ID and home address, under the alias "Westlake Pierre."

Footage from hotel surveillance video shows Pierre carrying a motionless woman, reportedly blacked out from drinking into a room.

"The victim was assaulted during the course of the incident,"  said Officer Hunter.

Police say Pierre is then seen on camera at a nearby 7-11 using the woman's credit card.

According to charging documents, when questioned about what happened during this time, the victim tells police she never asked to be taken inside the hotel room or that her credit card be used.

"A lot of the facts right now are just coming to light, and I have very little information based on the fact that I have had very little contact with my client," said Pierre's attorney Esteban Gergely.

Gergely adds that Perre's willingness to provide so much personal information at the hotel, is proof that has client has nothing to hide.

However, Police say this case and others like it, most recently in California and Michigan, should serve as a reminder to use caution when using Uber and other ride apps.

"Do remember that the driver is essentially a stranger to you," said Officer Hunter.

Uber has also responded to the matter: "This is deeply upsetting. The driver has been banned from the app and we are working closely with police to support their investigation." 

Uber says that the rider reported this matter directly to them on October 19 following the incident, and the driver was immediately removed.

"Since then we've worked closely with police to support their investigation," said an Uber spokeswoman.

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