Media365
A 32-year-old rideshare driver in California has been arrested after allegedly sexually assaulting a teenage passenger during a ride in San Jose, with investigators now warning that there could be additional victims.Police said the incident took place on the evening of September 12 in downtown San Jose. Officers responded to the 100 block of Paseo de San Antonio shortly after 10:30pm following a report of a sexual assault involving a minor.The juvenile male had been traveling in an Uber vehicle when the driver allegedly sexually assaulted him, according to the San Jose Police Department.The suspect was identified as Anuj Kumar, a 32-year-old resident of Foster City. According to NBC Bay Area, court records alleged that Kumar inappropriately touched the 14-year-old passenger and activated the vehicle’s child locks, preventing him from leaving. The alleged assault took place near the teenager’s destination, the Hammer Theatre close to San Jose State University.Police said the teenager contacted authorities immediately after getting out of the vehicle, allowing investigators to begin their investigation.“We’re fortunate that the victim reported this to the San Jose Police Department immediately so that we could begin our investigation,” police spokesperson Stacie Shih said.Investigators used automated license-plate reader cameras to identify the vehicle involved and subsequently linked it to Kumar, police said. With assistance from the Foster City Police Department, Kumar was arrested in Foster City on September 13, a day after the alleged assault.Kumar was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on suspicion of sexual assault of a minor.Court records said Kumar had worked as an Uber driver for about two-and-a-half years and had a 4.95 rating. Uber has permanently banned him from its platform following the allegations, the company said.“What’s been reported is deeply disturbing and has no place on our platform,” an Uber spokesperson said, adding that the company was supporting law enforcement with the investigation.San Jose police are now investigating whether there may be other victims. Authorities have asked anyone who has information about Kumar or who experienced a similar incident to contact Detective Hoang of the San Jose Police Department’s Sexual Assaults Investigation Unit at 408-277-4102 or 4684@sanjoseca.gov.
