A Georgia man was arrested on suspicion of raping and kidnapping a female Lyft driver and stealing the car that picked her up, police said Tuesday.
Alpharetta police say the rideshare driver picked up passenger DeMarcus Johnson on March 11, then stole her car, kidnapped her and raped her.
Police said in a news release that investigators determined Johnson sedated the victim during the incident.
Johnson was arrested Friday in connection with the incident. He is charged with rape, kidnapping, aggravated assault and theft, which are felonies.
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DeMarcus Johnson was charged with rape, kidnapping, aggravated assault and theft. (Alpharetta Police Department)
Police told FOX 5 Atlanta that the woman woke up in an unfamiliar hotel room, but her car was gone.
Capt. R. Andrew Sprown told the outlet that Johnson and the victim hit it off while riding in a lift and decided to drink together.
“They had a conversation and agreed to have drinks with each other,” Sprown said. “The victim has no recollection of what happened and is unable to describe the events of that night.”
Sprown said the victim’s toxicology report came back showing prescription narcotics that she had not been prescribed and was not consciously taking.
A Lyft spokesperson said in a statement to Fox 5 Atlanta that safety is important to the company and that Johnson’s alleged actions were “reprehensible.”
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Alpharetta police say the Lyft driver picked up passenger Demarcus Johnson on March 11, then stole his car, kidnapped him and raped him. (Getty Images)
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“Safety is fundamental to Lyft, and this behavior is reprehensible and has no place in our community or society,” the spokesperson said. “We contacted the driver to provide support. Additionally, the passenger’s account was permanently removed from the Lyft platform and we assisted law enforcement with their investigation.”
Sprown urged rideshare drivers and passengers to always be aware of their surroundings.
“Whether you are an operator, a driver, or a passenger participating in a rideshare, it is important to always be aware of your surroundings and stay alert,” he said. Ta.
This incident is still under investigation.
