UMass Amherst Police: Man Posing As Uber Driver Assaulted Female Student
AMHERST (CBS) -- Police said a man posing as an Uber driver was arrested after allegedly assaulting a UMass Amherst student over the weekend.
Samuel Texidor, 18 of Holyoke, was charged with indecent assault and battery. He was arraigned in Belchertown District Court Tuesday and is being held without bail.
According to University of Massachusetts Police, Texidor pulled up to the female student around 3:30 a.m. Saturday, falsely identified himself as an Uber driver, and offered her a free ride between campus residence buildings.
The student accepted, and police say Texidor indecently assaulted her outside of her destination.
They said she told Texidor to stop the car, he complied, and she was able to get out.
Police said Texidor may have approached other students offering "free rides" in his black 2014 Dodge Charger, and asked anyone who may have witnessed this to contact them.
UMPD also offered a list of safety tips, including that students verify the credentials of an Uber driver before getting in a vehicle with them, request drivers through the app, avoid walking alone at night, and not leave a party with someone they just met or don't know.