Uber Driver Accused Of Impersonating Child Welfare Worker

PORTSMOUTH, RI—Armando Hernandez, 26, of Providence, is on probation for a year after he impersonated a state social worker and tried to sign a teen out of Portsmouth High. Portsmouth police said he went to the school Oct. 13, but staff refused to release the girl when Hernandez failed to provide official identification. According to the police press release, he told the staff he was new at the state Department of Children, Youth and Families and had not yet been issued credentials. When they refused to allow him to take the girl out of school, he left.

The school reported the incident to police. An investigation followed, and on Oct. 19, police obtained an arrest warrant. He was charged with impersonating a public official. On Friday, the U.S. Marshals and the state police Violent Fugitive Task Force arrested him at his home in Providence. He pleaded no contest in Newport District Court on Friday. He was sentenced to one year probation and given a no trespass for the school grounds.

Police said he was an Uber driver, and the girl called him for a ride. He was providing rides for cash, police said.