Uber driver charged with rape and kidnapping, lawmakers say

A 58-year-old man and rideshare driver – Thurston County Jail information indicates he is an Uber driver – was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of first-degree kidnapping and second-degree rape, the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office said.

The incident involved his passenger, who was described by the officers as “very drunk”.

Around 1 a.m. Saturday, officers were dispatched to a report of a weapons violation at Sixth Avenue Southeast and Old Pacific Highway, a fishing spot in the Nisqually Valley and near the Nisqually River.

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Two bullet casings were found at the scene. The Uber driver had also just driven away but was later found and stopped. The driver had sustained injuries in a fight but was not shot, Lt. Mike Brooks said Sunday.

Officers learned that the woman’s father discovered the sexual assault and allegedly “beat up” the driver a little and fired the gun, although the timing of both incidents is unclear, Lt. Brooks said.

The driver’s injuries were treated at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia and he was then taken to jail.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call 911 at 360-704-2740 or email [email protected].