Uber Driver Arrested On Suspicion Of Sexual Battery Of USC Student
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — An Uber driver was arrested Saturday night after a female USC student said the driver groped her as she got out of the car.
The incident happened around 9 p.m. The student said that as she exited the car near campus, on 30th Street, the driver grabbed her backside.
The woman escaped the car and used an app called LiveSafe to notify campus security.
A few minutes late, LAPD arrived and took the driver, who has not been identified, into custody.
The driver has worked for both Uber and Lyft, KCAL9's Laurie Perez reported.
CBS2's Greg Mills spoke to students about the LiveSafe app
He said USC students, faculty and staff can use the app free of charge.
"We're required to download it as part of an orientation checklist," said student Yaeji Choi.
One click of the app connects a student to campus security. It also allows the user to check on crime in the immediate area or look for a safe route through an area.
Mitchell Beckage told Mills he needed the app the first week of school.
"I saw this guy who looked a little bit suspicious," said Beckage.
Emily Nixon's mom told her she thought the app was a good thing.
"She thought it was fantastic," said Nixon.
The student has probably not shared with her mother that she's since deleted it.
Nixon's freshmen friend Mirabel Michelson downloaded the app but is yet to use it.
"I don't know anything about it. I have no idea how it works," Michelson said.
Following the arrest of the Uber driver, Nixon said she will reconsider downloading the app again.
"In retrospect," she said, "I probably should re-download it and I probably will after this."
