An individual impersonating a Lyft driver has been taken into custody in Austin, Texas, for the alleged sexual assault of a passenger, as per affidavits obtained from law enforcement. Maurys O. Madruga-Mesa, 42, is facing charges after being accused of an assault that supposedly happened during a ride back in early May this year.
According to the FOX 7 Austin report, Madruga-Mesa, acting as a Lyft driver, is said to have diverted the course several times before halting in a West Austin area, where the victim alleged the assault occurred. It is also reported that during this deviation, the ride-hailing service sent a safety alert to the passenger as Madruga-Mesa had purportedly ended the trip prematurely at an incorrect location.
The victim recounted that Madruga-Mesa induced her to move to the front seat and proceeded to make unwanted advances and inappropriate comments before the assault. She managed to leave the car near her residence following the incident. These events were corroborated using GPS and cellular data tied to the ride, as detailed in the arrest affidavit.
In a statement to CBS Austin, authorities noted that Madruga-Mesa initially denied the allegations, but later conceded to have "touched the passenger inappropriately." He has been placed under arrest and his bond set at $40,000, facing charges of sexual assault. Upon his arrest, it was discovered that he was using a friend's account to work for Lyft, not being the individual registered on the platform himself.
Lyft has been actively complying with the ongoing investigation, responding to a grand jury subpoena by providing requested details regarding the ride history and driver information. The ride-sharing company has not issued an official statement about the case as of yet. Madruga-Mesa remains in custody at the Travis County Jail.
