A ride-share driver was arrested in Tempe for sexually assaulting a female customer on Halloween. The 31-year-old suspect, Mario Bernell Hernandez, allegedly picked up the woman at 3:00 a.m. and asked her to sit in the front seat. During the ride, he reportedly touched and kissed her, threw money at her, and exposed himself. The victim tried to get out of the moving car, but he wouldn’t let her.
Attorney and former police officer, Anthony Ramirez, commented that criminals often “test boundaries” in these situations, emphasizing the importance of avoiding close proximity in ride-shares if possible and trusting one’s instincts.
https://youtu.be/cKYW7jvQEFU?si=I9J56zPYI33SQbtx
Uber offers an in-app safety toolkit with an emergency button that connects riders directly to 911. Some young people are opting for driverless cars like Waymo for safety reasons.
Ramirez reminds riders to “stay vigilant” when using ride-shares.
Court documents state that Hernandez admitted to the sexual abuse and exposure, and an Uber spokesperson confirmed he was banned from the platform.
