A driver for the Uber ride-sharing service in Orlando has been arrested after police said he inappropriately touched a woman he picked up while on the job.
Orlando police said the victim's boyfriend requested an Uber driver to pick up his girlfriend last Friday, Sept. 19, and meet him at an agreed location.
Investigators said the driver, identified by police as Ramy Botros, picked up the woman and then rode around aimlessly, making comments about how attractive and pretty the passenger was.
Police said Botros then stopped the vehicle and placed his hand inside the victim's blouse. The woman told the driver several times not to touch her and to take her to her destination, where her boyfriend was waiting for her.
The victim told police she didn't want to upset the driver, so she pretended as though everything was fine after the incident, and even requested a business card from him when they arrived at her destination.
The woman then notified police, giving detectives the driver's business card and a recording she took during the incident, saying she had read several things about Uber drivers allegedly sexually battering women.
Police interviewed Botros on Wednesday. During the interview, detectives said Botros described how the victim was dressed, and said in his home country of Egypt, if a woman dresses a certain way, "she [is] asking for that."
Botros was arrested Wednesday on battery charges. He was released Thursday after posting a bond of $500.
Response from Uber
A spokesman for Uber sent us the following statement Thursday:
Rider safety is Uber's #1 priority. We take reports like this seriously and are treating the matter with utmost urgency and care.
We have suspended the driver’s account while we investigate, as is our policy, and stand ready to assist authorities in any investigation.