Ex-Taco Bell Executive Charged In Alleged Assault On Uber Driver
WESTMINSTER (CBSLA.com) — A 32-year-old former Taco Bell executive faced misdemeanor assault and battery charges Tuesday in connection with an alleged attack on an Uber driver in Costa Mesa.
Newport Beach resident Benjamin Allen Golden was also charged with misdemeanor battery on a public transit employee with injury and assault on public transportation property, according to Roxi Fyad of the Orange County District Attorney's Office.
Golden, who is out of custody, was scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 17. He faces up to a year in jail or a $10,000 fine if convicted. Prosecutors are expected to ask that his bail be raised to $20,000.
The alleged assault, which was captured on a dashboard-camera video, occurred about 8:10 p.m. Friday in the 1800 block of Newport Boulevard, according to Costa Mesa police.
The driver, Edward Caban, is seen being struck several times in the video but he did not need medical treatment, said Costa Mesa police Lt. Greg Scott.
Golden, who has since lost his job in the marketing department of Taco Bell, called for an Uber driver to pick him up from a Newport Beach bar Friday night, Scott said.
After Golden struggled to tell the driver where he wanted to go, the driver stopped in a nearby parking lot and told him to get out, Scott said.
The video shows Golden allegedly "punched and slapped the side of the driver's face," Scott said.
In response to the alleged assault, the driver pepper-sprayed Golden, according to Scott.
Upon announcing the company had fired Golden over the attack, Taco Bell released the following statement: "Given the behavior of the individual, it is clear he can no longer work for us. We have also offered and encouraged him to seek professional help."
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