Docs: Lyft driver attempted to kidnap woman, 2-month-old on Indy's northeast side

INDIANAPOLIS -- Police have arrested a Lyft driver accused of attempting to kidnap a woman and her 2-month-old son on the northeast side of Indianapolis this week.




The investigation began on Aug. 5 when officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department were called around 4:30 p.m. to the 3800 block of Mitthoeffer Road. When they arrived, they met with a woman who stated she and her infant were involved in an attempted kidnapping.




The woman explained that she had ordered a Lyft earlier that afternoon from her residence on North Meridian Street and had intended to be dropped off near East 34th Street and North Sherman Drive.




After she was picked up by her Lyft driver, who court documents identified as Francky Lahens, she claimed he cancelled the ride before apologizing to her and saying, "I don't know why it did that."




A short time later, the woman recalled seeing Lahens miss the turn that would have brought her to her selected destination. She said she became concerned and contacted 911 and other family members to inform them of the developing situation.




The woman said she informed Lahens that he was going the wrong way but he reportedly ignored her. Court documents show the woman recalled hearing the driver say, "Oh baby, oh baby" multiple times during the ride.




Court documents indicate that the woman attempted to open the car door but was prevented from doing so because the child safety lock was engaged. The woman said Lahens continued driving eastbound toward the intersection of East 38th Street and North Mitthoeffer Road.




The woman recalled the driver rolling down the window to the door she was sitting next to in an attempt to "console" the infant, who reportedly began crying. The ride then continued eastbound before Lahens turned southbound from East 38th Street to pull into the Spanish Oaks apartment complex.




The woman said she proceeded to reach through the window, which was still slightly open, and began opening the door with the outside door handle. She said that as she was doing so, Lahens reportedly slammed on the brakes.




With the vehicle brought to a halt, she said she was able to exit the vehicle with her child and run to an unidentified man and ask for his help. Court documents show that she was eventually able to be transported to the BP Gas Station on North Mitthoeffer Road by a family member who had been tracking her location throughout the incident.




The woman and infant were not injured during the incident, court documents said.




As police investigated, the woman provided them with a receipt from the ride, which included a photo of Lahens. The Lyft app revealed that the vehicle he picked the woman up in was a white Chevrolet Malibu.




She said she remembered Lahens reportedly wearing a baseball cap and a dark colored shirt. A short time later, officers drove through the Spanish Oaks apartment complex, where they observed a vehicle matching the provided description.




They recognized the suspect based on the woman's description and placed him under arrest. Lahens faces the following charges:

• Kidnapping where victim is less than 14 years of age (Level 5 Felony)





• Two counts of Kidnapping where committed by using a vehicle (Level 5 Felony)





• Confinement where victim is under 14 years of age (Level 5 Felony)





• Criminal confinement where a vehicle is used (Level 5 Felony)

Online court records indicate Lahens is scheduled to appear in Marion Superior Court 21 on Oct. 16 for a jury trial.










via: https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/docs-lyft-driver-attempted-to-kidnap-woman-2-month-old-on-indys-northeast-side/