Police: Van driver sexually assaulted 19-year-old customer
A 44-year-old state licensed limousine driver allegedly sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman after he drove her and her friends around Ann Arbor to dinner and a local bar.
Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said the incident was reported to police on March 9. Bush said the man drove the woman and her friends to dinner and then to a bar. At about 2 a.m., the woman left the bar, recognized the man and requested he drive her back to her friend’s house, Bush said.
The man told her he needed to pick up other people and drop them off first, Bush said. After the man picked those customers up and dropped them off, he drove the woman to her friend’s house but no one was home, according to Bush.
The man said he had to pick up other customers but would drop her back off at her friend’s house afterward, Bush said. The man picked up those customers and then dropped them off.
Instead of returning to the woman’s friend’s house, the man drove to a wooded area, began kissing her on the cheek and put his hand on her thigh, Bush said. The woman told him to stop but he continued, so she escaped from the van and started running, Bush said.
The victim eventually came across another woman who drove her to her friend’s house, Bush said. The sexual assault was then reported at the police station.
It’s unclear where the wooded area was that the man sexually assaulted the woman because the woman is from out of state and is unfamiliar with Ann Arbor, Bush said.
The woman is able to identify the man, and the incident is still under investigation.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Grimey
Mon, Mar 19, 2012 : 3:13 p.m.
So, 19 year old, from out of town, at a bar, until 2AM, and can't get a ride with the friends she originally came with... There's more to this story.
Victoria Merinsky
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 4:59 p.m.
Eeewwwhheee Gas grass or A.. Haven't heard that one i years and its so true unfortunately.. Please parents when you send these college adults to the world Please don't forget to tell them the good ol days wisdom of the jist of the meaning of the old saying.. Ladies do not roam alone in the night with no plan home first on your mind before the outing ! I hate to see a young gal learn the hard way or young lad at that matter don't walk in the night alone drunk to your dorm why u get jumped Not all kids come from the big city i suppose to this lil city. Living as a 17 yr resident townie We see this allot and look out but you never know who is the opportunist out there in this crazy world......
boo
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
something tells me that by the time he drove her around two or three times, she might have thought "this isn't going to end well" and got out.
M.
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 7:25 p.m.
I'm also curious what company he worked for. Just a few weeks ago, I was handed a card by my Blue Cab driver. It showed a woman in a seductive pose and advertisement for "photography and video" along with the words "Blue Cab Confessions" and some contact info. It was really creepy.
Marshall Applewhite
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 1:41 a.m.
Something about this story just doesn't add up.
sh1
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 1:48 p.m.
Another thing that's missing is the date of the alleged incident. It was reported to the police on March 9. Did it also happen on March 9?
thecompound
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 1:54 a.m.
Was it all the back and forth picking up and dropping off---I found reading it a bit confusing ;)
cinnabar7071
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 12:59 a.m.
We used to have a saying back in the 60's "Gas, grass, or --- nobody rides for free." I hope they catch the guy, he sounds dangerous
M.
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 7:30 p.m.
I wasn't even alive during the 60s but I've heard the quote countless times (though minus the "nobody rides for free" part) usually in reference to hitchhiking. Come on guys. Does seem a little crude for a comment on a sexual assault though, no?
DBH
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 1:33 a.m.
I remember them as well, but never heard this quote before (though I can figure out the meaning). The quote is crass (rhyme intended).
Veracity
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.
I remember the '60's but I do not remember hearing your quote. What does it mean?
thecompound
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 12:33 a.m.
So did this driver work for a company or was he self-employed?
M.
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 7:27 p.m.
lynel, some of us use services such as cabs that use hired drivers, such as this guy. I would like to know if he worked for a local company so I can watch out for him and be sure he isn't my driver.
ViSHa
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 1:32 p.m.
I would want to know this, especially with prom season coming up.
lynel
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 2:18 a.m.
Who cares, are you a lawyer?
Anthony
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.
Really disturbing and Disgusting!
sh1
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 : 12:31 a.m.
It probably would be prudent to hear both sides of the story before making judgments.
ViSHa
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 : 1:58 p.m.
Found more information on The Michigan Daily, there are definitely two sides that need to be sorted out.