Video: Man Attacks Uber Driver, Steals His Phone After Having Ride Canceled
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — An Uber driver is speaking out after he was attacked by a rider, who stole his phone and ran off.
The driver, who asked to remain unidentified, says the attack happened last Saturday at about 9 p.m. in the 1100 block of 61st Street, after he canceled a ride when the rider failed to appear at the spot of the request within the five minute window.
When the request came in again, the driver came back and picked up the person. But when the rider got hostile, the driver canceled the ride again – apparently setting off the rider.
"I remember being struck at least four times," the driver said while speaking to CBS reporters. For his safety, he opted to have his voice altered and his name withheld. "I remember fearing for my life."
The ride lasted just about 30 seconds before the driver canceled it when the rider was confrontational. "I was out here a minute ago. I was about to call you and ended the f---ing ride," the rider could be heard saying via the dashcam.
"When he got in the car he said, 'Oh, you're the driver who canceled on me,'" the driver continued.
In the dashcam video, the rider acknowledged he made the previous request that was canceled, then lunged forward, threw punches at the driver and started cursing at him. He appeared to yank items off the interior of the car and from the back seat, then stole the driver's phone and ran off on foot.
The driver says he was able to track down his phone to a La Palma business about 15 minutes away from the scene of the attack and got it back. It's unclear, however, how the phone ended up there.
The driver says he has filed a police report against the driver.
"I hope he gets prosecuted and he spends his time for the crime that he did," the driver concluded.
In a statement, Uber says they have seen the video and dropped the customer.