Sacramento Uber driver carjacked by passenger at gunpoint

Sacramento police are searching for a suspect who allegedly carjacked an Uber driver at gunpoint. Tarek Alzughayar told KCRA 3 that he picked up a passenger near Broadway and Riverside Boulevard around 10:30 pm on Thursday. But as soon as the ride ended at Dudley and McClatchy ways, the passenger pulled out a gun and pointed it at him.”He was like, ‘Do not move.’ He was searching me, like, ‘Do not move. If you move, I’m going to shoot you,'” Alzughayar said. “I was really, really afraid. I’ll tell you that. I was really scared about it because I didn’t know what he was going to do. He could shoot me. I didn’t know what he was going to do .”Alzughayar said the armed passenger took his wallet, phone and keys and drove off. The Sacramento Police Department said it was able to find the car a short time later, but detectives are still searching for the suspected carjacker. As of Monday night, no arrest was made. Alzughayar said he is still in shock by what happened. He has been an Uber driver for about four years, and the thought of something like this happening did not cross his mind.”I’ve never had any issues with any customer before. It was the first time it happened,” Alzughayar said. Uber told KCRA 3 that the account of the rider involved in the carjacking incident has been deactivated.Uber driver reports being attacked by passenger in Roseville, police saidJust a few days later, on Saturday, The Roseville Police Department said a passenger assaulted an Uber driver . Roseville police spokesperson Rob Baquera said that around 6:00 pm, the Uber driver decided to end the trip he was completing for six passengers.”During the ride, the passengers became rowdy, so much so that this driver felt that they wanted to ask them to get out of the car,” Baquera said.Baquera said when the driver pulled over in a parking lot near Douglas Boulevard and Roseville Parkway, one of the passengers punched him, knocking him to the ground. The driver was not seriously hurt and was medically cleared at the scene. As police continue their investigation, they are sending a safety reminder to rideshare drivers.”The driver did the right thing … attempting to do everything that you can to de-escalate the situation,” Baquera said. “We would encourage anybody who is in Roseville as a rideshare driver to always be aware, know your surroundings, know where you are, but also know how to call for help.”Uber told KCRA 3 that, in this case, they removed the rider’s access to the platform and are continuing to look into what happened. In response to both incidents in Sacramento and Roseville, Uber sent the following statement to KCRA 3:”These reports are extremely unnerving. Driver safety is crucial which is why we’ve pioneered many of the safety features that are standard in the industry today, including an in-app emergency button. We have reached out to both drivers to check on their well-being and will stand ready to assist law enforcement in their investigations.”Safety resources from UberUber in an email listed various safety features that have been developed for drivers over the years:In- app emergency button: it will reach out to 911 directly “Live Help” from a Safety Agent: a safety agent from ADT will stay on the phone for the duration of a situation that does not require policeRideCheck: makes sure drivers are OK in the event of a possible crash or unexpected long stopFollow My Ride feature: enables drivers to share their trip route in real time with family or loved ones

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Sacramento police are searching for a suspect who allegedly carjacked an Uber driver at gunpoint.

Tarek Alzughayar told KCRA 3 that he picked up a passenger near Broadway and Riverside Boulevard around 10:30 pm on Thursday. But as soon as the ride ended at Dudley and McClatchy ways, the passenger pulled out a gun and pointed it at him.

“He was like, ‘Don’t move.’ He was searching me, like, ‘Do not move. If you move, I’m going to shoot you,'” Alzughayar said. “I was really, really afraid. I’ll tell you that. I was really scared about it because I didn’t know what he was going to do. He could shoot me. I didn’t know what he was going to do .”

Alzughayar said the armed passenger took his wallet, phone and keys and drove off. The Sacramento Police Department said it was able to find the car a short time later, but detectives are still searching for the suspected carjacker. As of Monday night, no arrest was made.

Alzughayar said he is still in shock by what happened. He has been an Uber driver for about four years, and the thought of something like this happening did not cross his mind.

“I’ve never had any issues with any customer before. It was the first time it happened,” Alzughayar said.

Uber told KCRA 3 that the account of the rider involved in the carjacking incident has been deactivated.

Uber driver reports being attacked by passenger in Roseville, police said

Just a few days later, on Saturday, The Roseville Police Department said a passenger assaulted an Uber driver. Roseville police spokesperson Rob Baquera said that around 6:00 pm, the Uber driver decided to end the trip he was completing for six passengers.

“During the ride, the passengers became rowdy, so much so that this driver felt that they wanted to ask them to get out of the car,” Baquera said.

Baquera said when the driver pulled over into a parking lot near Douglas Boulevard and Roseville Parkway, one of the passengers punched him, knocking him to the ground. The driver was not seriously hurt and was medically cleared at the scene. As police continue their investigation, they are sending a safety reminder to rideshare drivers.

“The driver did the right thing … attempting to do everything that you can to de-escalate the situation,” Baquera said. “We would encourage anybody who is in Roseville as a rideshare driver to always be aware, know your surroundings, know where you are, but also know how to call for help.”

Uber told KCRA 3 that, in this case, they removed the rider’s access to the platform and are continuing to look into what happened.

In response to both incidents in Sacramento and Roseville, Uber sent the following statement to KCRA 3:

“These reports are extremely unnerving. Driver safety is crucial which is why we’ve pioneered many of the safety features that are standard in the industry today, including an in-app emergency button. We have reached out to both drivers to check on their well-being and will stand ready to assist law enforcement in their investigations.”

Safety resources from Uber

Uber in an email listed various safety features that have been developed for drivers over the years:

• In-app emergency button: it will reach out to 911 directly
• “Live Help” from a Safety Agent: a safety agent from ADT will stay on the phone for the duration of a situation that does not require police
• RideCheck: makes sure drivers are OK in the event of a possible crash or unexpected long stop
• Follow My Ride feature: enables drivers to share their trip route in real time with family or loved ones