A Cuban driver from the ride-sharing app Empower was arrested in Hialeah, Florida, accused of forcibly kissing and inappropriately touching a 17-year-old passenger during a ride, according to the police report cited by Local 10.
The detainee, Vicente Fermín Rodríguez Hernández, 45 years old, was taken into custody on Thursday, October 15, and faces a charge of lewd or indecent conduct against a minor, considered a felony under Florida law.
According to the arrest report from the Hialeah Police, also cited by WSVN 7News and Telemundo 51, the teenager requested a ride through Empower on Wednesday, October 14, after attending an appointment.
According to the complaint, from the beginning of the trip, the driver began calling her "beautiful," mentioned that he had a business and needed employees, and proposed to meet that same night to discuss work. He also asked her if she was single or married, showing no interest in her age.
The police report states that Rodríguez Hernández veered the vehicle toward a nearby park by the Bonterra condominium, where the young woman lived, parked, and asked for permission to sit next to her in the back seat.
When the teenager leaned in to give a courtesy hug, the driver allegedly grabbed her with both arms, turned her face, and kissed her on the lips without her consent, according to the police report cited by Univision Miami.
The teenager's report and the subsequent messages
The young woman told investigators that she repeatedly rejected the driver's advances, saying "no, no, no," and physically pushed his hand away. Despite this, according to her testimony, the man touched her genitals over her clothing three to four times and attempted twice to insert his hand into her pants.
The teenager stated that she remained inside the vehicle for about 30 minutes before the driver finally took her to her residence, where he allegedly kissed her forcibly again before she got out.
According to the police report, Rodríguez Hernández took the passenger's phone, entered his contact information, and made a call to his own device to retrieve the young woman's number.
Later, he sent her messages in which he claimed that he "liked her kisses" and suggested that they meet again to discuss the supposed job opportunity.
The teenager responded that she was single and not looking for a relationship, although she could talk about employment. After the driver insisted on meeting up, she stopped communicating with him, according to the report.
Arrest and court appearance
The investigators identified the suspect through the data associated with the trip requested in Empower and the phone number he had provided to the teenager.
According to the information released, Rodríguez Hernández had an address registered in Downey, California, although he provided a Hialeah address to the dealership where he purchased the Hyundai Santa Fe that he used for transporting passengers.
Upon being arrested, the accused invoked their right to remain silent.
During her court appearance, a judge determined that there was probable cause to uphold the charges and set a bail of $5,000. According to initial reports, Rodríguez Hernández remained incarcerated at the Turner Guilford Knight (TGK) Correctional Center.
The charge of lewd or indecent conduct against a minor, as noted in the arrest reports, can constitute a third-degree felony in Florida, punishable by up to five years in prison.
Other driver arrests in Miami-Dade
The arrest comes after recent cases of Cuban ride-hailing drivers accused of sexual offenses in Miami-Dade.
On October 14, Joe Luis Suárez Pozo, a 51-year-old Uber driver, was arrested in Hialeah accused of sexually assaulting a 63-year-old woman. In June, Yusel Keoma Pérez Leyva, a 42-year-old Uber driver, was arrested in Doral accused of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a passenger.
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