Woman attacks Uber driver, 67, who refused to take her home, police say

MELBOURNE, Fla. – A woman was arrested Friday in Melbourne on allegations of attacking her 67-year-old Uber driver after he refused to drive her to an area where he had previously been a victim of a crime, according to police.

Lamishia West, 25, was arrested on charges of battery on a person 65 or older, and tampering with or harassing a witness.

According to Melbourne police, the driver picked up West on Saxon Street and began driving her to her home on Lipscomb Street. The driver said that as he approached W.H. Jackson and Lipscomb he pulled onto Church Street and then pulled over on Main Street, according to an affidavit.

The driver said he told West the area made him uncomfortable because he had been a victim there, according to authorities.

"And I said, 'I'm not going to the end of Lipscomb. I've had people attack my car there before,'" Russ told a 911 operator.

West demanded he take her home, and he offered to take her on a longer route, officials said. The driver also said he told West she could get out and he would terminate the cost, according to officials. 
The driver asked West to get out of his car, and she repeatedly punched him in the face, officials said.

"I've just been attacked by one of my Uber riders," Russ said in the 911 call. "She started hitting me in the face."
 
The driver began yelling "dial 911," hoping his voice-activation software on his phone would trigger and call authorities, according to the affidavit. As he was screaming, West continued to attack him, officials said.

"I told her to get out and she wouldn't get out and she started attacking me," Russ said.

The Uber driver then grabbed his phone to call 911, but West continued to struggle with him, preventing him from calling 911, officials said.

West continued to demand the driver take her home, but she finally got out of his car and he called 911, officials said.

According to the arrest affidavit, West gave a similar statement as the Uber driver, although she said he tried to push her out of the car.

Police said audio recorded on the driver's phone matched his account of events, and West was arrested.

West walked out of the Brevard County Jail Friday night posting a $7,000 bond.