What started as a routine rideshare pickup in St. Louis County on Tuesday reportedly turned into a terrifying struggle inside a motel room, leaving a driver fighting to breathe and a 26-year-old man now facing a slate of violent felony charges.
According to court documents obtained by local media, the driver picked up 26-year-old Tamon Sleet and drove him to a motel. Once there, Sleet allegedly slipped a rope around the driver's neck and began strangling him. The documents say Sleet then followed the victim while displaying a gun, ordered him back into the vehicle, and tried to shove items into the driver's mouth. The driver punched Sleet and ran, managing to escape, as reported by First Alert 4.
Charges and evidence
Court papers state that surveillance footage captured parts of the encounter, and the driver later identified Sleet to authorities. Sleet is charged with first-degree assault, vehicle hijacking, first-degree attempted robbery and three counts of armed criminal action, according to First Alert 4. Those counts carry significant potential prison time if convicted.
What happens next in court
The case will move through the St. Louis County court system, with an arraignment and potential bond hearings expected after the formal filing of charges. The St. Louis County Court explains that in local criminal cases, an arrest is followed by the filing of charges, then arraignment and bond decisions, as outlined in its public court records process, per the St. Louis County Court.
Driver safety concerns
The alleged attack lands in the middle of a worrying pattern for gig workers behind the wheel. In recent years, the St. Louis area has seen a series of high-profile attacks and carjackings involving rideshare drivers, ramping up local concern over driver safety and prompting broader questions about how well the system protects the people doing the driving.
Earlier coverage highlighted a string of juvenile cases tied to rideshare vehicles and the justice-system debate they sparked in the region, including teen rideshare carjackings that drew scrutiny to how young suspects are handled in serious vehicle crimes.
Authorities say the investigation into the latest incident remains active. Officials have not released additional information about Sleet's custody status or upcoming court dates. This story will be updated as the county prosecutor or law enforcement provides more details.
