A man working as a transit driver in Nashville has been hit with rape charges and is facing legal action after he allegedly assaulted a disabled woman. Abdirashid Elmi, who drove for Mobility Solutions—a contractor for Nashville's WeGo Public Transit system—was indicted on multiple counts of rape and sexual battery involving a disabled passenger, The Tennessean reported.
According to details from a lawsuit filed in Davidson County Circuit Court, the incident allegedly transpired in March of last year the victim's mother overheard something distressing during a phone call between her daughter and Elmi, the victim referred to Elmi as "her boyfriend," and upon further questioning, revealed the sexual assault, as detailed by WTVF. The victim, who the lawsuit states is incapable of giving consent due to a mental handicap, shares the same initials as the individual mentioned in Elmi's indictment, aligning the details of the charge and the lawsuit.
The family's suit contends the defendants had actual or constructive knowledge of facts or complaints that would call Elmi's fitness to drive and provide transportation for mentally handicapped adults into substantial doubt," making them "liable and negligent for the retention of such an employee. Elmi was released on a $100,000 bond and is expected in court next month on April 10, his employment status with the transit authority in the wake of these allegations remains unreported.
Amid these disturbing accusations, WeGo Public Transit drivers themselves report facing an uptick in abuse on the job, with instances occurring as frequently as every other week, this abuse ranges from verbal assaults to physical encounters, including spitting, according to FOX 17. WeGo's CEO Stephen Bland revealed the worrying trend, stating that "Everything goes...like verbal assault to physical assault. Spitting on folks, that happens all too often. Threats that don't end up being an assault."
