NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FLA. (WSVN) - Police have arrested an Uber driver who allegedly sexually assaulted a female passenger whom he had picked up.
Emilio Victores, 45, made a Friday appearance in bond court after surrendering to North Miami Beach Police.
According to the arrest report, the female victim, who was on vacation from South Carolina, ordered an Uber Pool from a home in North Miami Beach to head to Biscayne Park to meet up with friends on March 17.
When the driver picked up three other customers, the victim moved to the front seat to make room for the new group, the report stated.
While seated in the front passenger seat, the victim fell asleep. When she awoke, the victim noticed the vehicle was on the side of the road, and the driver was on top of her and kissing her on the lips, the report said.
The report stated the victim then looked down and saw that her pants were pulled down to her ankles. She also stated the driver’s pants were not buttoned and his genitals were exposed.
Once the victim realized what was happening, she pushed him off and demanded that the driver to take her back to her original destination, which was 12 miles away, and he complied, the report said.
The victim also said she was missing a Rolex watch and $50 in cash that she had in her bikini top, the report said.
According to Miami-Dade Clerks and the Florida Department of Corrections, Victores previously served a 15-year prison sentence for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon after he forced his way into a Miami Gardens home and stabbed a man in 2001. He was released in January 2016.
Uber released a statement on the incident, Friday, which read, “What’s been described is deeply upsetting and our thoughts are with the rider during this difficult time. The driver’s access to the app was removed as soon as it was reported to us.”
According to Florida law, a person with a felony in the last five years would prevent that person from being a ride-sharing driver.
However, Uber said they go back seven years for their background checks.
Uber representatives told 7News since the date Victores committed his crime exceeds seven years, it means that it would not show up during his background check.
An attorney for the state told the judge, “It’s scary that somebody with that criminal history would be able to drive for Uber.”
“It’s a huge liability for Uber, as well,” added the judge.
Victores remains behind bars on a $25,000 bond and received a stay-away order from the victim should he bond out.
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