College professor who drove for Uber accused of kidnapping three female passengers

A college professor who drove for ride-hailing company Uber on the side has been accused of kidnapping three female passengers, ABC News reported Tuesday.

Penn State professor Richard Lomotey, who was arrested earlier this month for allegedly kidnapping two women, is now being accused of kidnapping a third.

{mosads}The third woman spoke with police on May 16, saying that on May 11, she was outside of a nightclub when she saw a car with an Uber decal and jumped in the front passenger seat, according to a criminal complaint filed on Monday and reviewed by ABC.

She had not used the Uber App, but gave her address and $10 cash to the driver, according to the complaint.

The woman said Lomotey kept asking about her relationship status while he was driving.

She said she replied that “she was engaged and did not want to participate in any sexual activities with him,” but that Lomotey held and grabbed her wrist, according to the court documents.

Every time she unlocked the car doors, Lomotey would lock them, the passenger said in the complaint.

She told police “she was so afraid she opened the door and jumped from the moving vehicle at an unknown location” and the car sped off.

Lomotey was arrested on May 11 for a similar incident in which he is accused of ignoring GPS directions while driving two women, and allegedly threatened the female passengers after complimenting them.

He faces charges including kidnapping and false imprisonment. After reportedly posting bail on Monday, he is next due in court for a preliminary hearing on May 23.

It is not clear if Lomotey has retained a defense attorney and he could not immediately be reached for comment.

“What’s been described is unacceptable,” a spokesperson for Uber told The Hill. “The driver’s access to the app has been removed and we stand ready to cooperate with law enforcement to support their investigation.” 

Penn State and did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment.

–Updated at 4:02 p.m.