Uber Driver Allegedly Kidnapped And Kissed 15-Year-Old Girl

GOLDEN, CO – an Uber driver is facing charges of kidnapping in Jefferson County after allegedly refusing to drop a 15-year-old girl at her home, driving her to another location and then locking the doors of his car and kissing her without her consent, the JeffCo Sheriff's Office said Monday.

Shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, Ahmed Abullahi Muse, 29, an Uber driver picked up the 15-year-old girl from her job in the 100 block of North Rubey Drive in Golden, the sheriff's office said.

Because she was a juvenile, a co-worker had scheduled the shared ride through the (less expensive) UberPOOL carpooling app, which allows riders to save money by sharing a ride with another person going the same way.

When Muse arrived, the girl sat in the front seat because another rider occupied the backseat, the sheriff's office said. Despite the girl’s home being closest along the shared route, Muse "bypassed her home, claiming the Uber app was not functioning correctly on his phone," the sheriff's office said. "Knowing she was only a few blocks from home, the girl offered to pay Muse an additional $10.00 to drop her first so she would not have to travel to I-76 and Pecos – the other rider’s destination - only to have to return to Golden."

Muse allegedly refused to stop, saying he had to drop passengers in the order they were picked up, the sheriff's office said. After dropping the other passenger, Muse drove back to the girl’s neighborhood. He locked the doors to his car and kissed the girl "against her will," the sheriff's office said. Eventually, Muse unlocked the doors and the girl escaped into her home.

Sheriff’s deputies identified Muse through the Uber app. He was arrested Sunday and faces charges of second-degree kidnapping, false imprisonment and harassment.

According to police, the other passenger corroborated the girl's description of events before being dropped at his destination near I-76 and Pecos.

The sheriff's office recommends texting or otherwise sharing with others the driver name and license plate number when using a ride-sharing service.

Uber offers a “Critical Safety Response Line” on its app for riders in need of safety-related assistance. And riders are always encouraged to call 9-1-1 if they believe they are in danger, the sheriff's office said.

Uber said in a report on Denver7 that it kicked Muse off the app after his arrest.

“What’s been described is deeply troubling and upon learning of it we immediately removed the driver's access to the app," an Uber spokesperson said in a statement to Denver7 Monday. "We stand ready to assist the law enforcement investigation in any way possible.”

Related: Uber Adds 911 Panic Button For Denver Users

Muse is being held in Jefferson County jail on no bond. He is next scheduled to appear in Jefferson County District Court on Nov. 13.

Image via Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

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