(Image source from: abc15.com)

Tempe:

An Uber passenger named Danny Hale Jr, aged 35 years was arrested after an Uber Driver lodged complaint against him on the charges of sexual assault. According to reports Hale Jr. was an Uber passenger in the vehicle which was driven by this female victim, and he allegedly grabbed her touching her inappropriately on the arm and then her private parts multiple times. Though the Unber driver kept saying to stop and repeatedly pushed him aside.

Around midnight on Sunday the victim Uber driver was taking Hale to Scottdale location, and just at the loop 202 Red Mountain Freeway, Hale grabbed the woman first by her arm and then later groped her breasts and inner thighs. Though Hale was sitting behind, he made advances to the female driver inappropriately

The woman then eventually pulled off the freeway and asked Hale to vacate the vehicle, at the North Scottsdale Rd. She then called 911 and Police later arrested Hale from a parking lot around. Police reported that he was fully intoxicated and under influence, while police caught him, he was urinating at the parking lot.

He was arrested and booked for sexual abuse. Uber released a statement later, "The behavior the driver reported is unacceptable and clearly against Uber's policies. The riders have been removed from the app while we continue to look into this incident. We stand ready to help police with their investigation and are grateful for the driver's quick actions."

Police also stated that Hale accepted touching the driver but not inappropriately as he said he was only trying to calm her down. Uber and Police reports have also shown that the man who was arrested wasn’t the man who actually booked the Uber ride. Hale made the first appearance at court and his bond was set for $10,000. The next court hearing is scheduled for Monday.

By Minu Manisha