Lafayette police arrest Uber driver accused of attempting to kidnap woman, 4 juveniles

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. -- A Lafayette man is facing several preliminary charges after police say he attempted to kidnap a woman and her four young sons while giving them an Uber ride over the weekend.




According to the Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Office, deputies were called on Aug. 10 around 2:55 p.m. to the 3900 block of North River Road in West Lafayette.




Deputies spoke with a 30-year-old woman who explained that she requested an Uber ride to be dropped off at the Tippecanoe County Amphitheater Park. She said an Uber driver, who police identified as 36-year-old Vernio Geneus, picked her and her sons up on Park East Boulevard.

While they were traveling on North River Road, the woman said Geneus allegedly pulled into Tecumseh Trail Park. She recalled telling him that it was not her selected destination and recalled feeling "frightened" as she attempted to exit the vehicle.




Geneus allegedly locked the doors in an apparent attempt to keep the woman and her children inside the vehicle, TCSO said. A short time later, the woman managed to unlock the back door and exit the vehicle with her four children to safety. She told Geneus she was calling 911 before he reportedly fled the area.




As the investigation unfolded, the woman showed deputies the Uber driver's profile and described the suspect's vehicle. This information was then shared with local law enforcement agencies, who began searching for the suspect.




Police then located a vehicle matching the provided description as it was traveling on State Road 26. TCSO said they followed the vehicle before it parked in front of a hotel on Frontage Road.




Police then placed Geneus under arrest without further incident and transported him to the Tippecanoe County Jail without bond, where he faces five felony counts of Kidnapping (Level 5 Felony) and five felony counts of Criminal Confinement.




The Tippecanoe County School Corporation confirmed to FOX59/CBS4 that Geneus previously worked for the corporation as an evening custodian for nearly a year.




Uber confirmed Monday night that it was aware of Geneus' arrest and was "looking into this report."





via: https://fox59.com/news/lafayette-police-arrest-uber-driver-accused-of-attempting-to-kidnap-woman-4-juveniles/