Santa Monica police introduced Wednesday the arrest of a person for allegedly sexually assaulting a feminine passenger in his car whereas he was employed as a Lyft driver in September.
Officers have been despatched to the 2900 block of Pennsylvania Avenue on Sept. 7, 2023, “relating to a sexual assault,” based on Lt. Erika Aklufi of the Santa Monica Police Division.
Police stated a lady reported {that a} Lyft driver picked her up from a West Hollywood restaurant and sexually assaulted her through the journey to her residence.
“The sufferer, a Santa Monica resident, fell asleep within the automobile and woke as much as inappropriate touching,” Aklufi stated.
“The suspect then provided to stroll her to her door, which she refused. As soon as residence, she realized a number of hours had handed since she was picked up.”
Santa Monica police detectives recognized the motive force as Fernando Macias Morales, 34, of Los Angeles and he was arrested April 5 within the San Fernando Valley.
The Los Angeles County District Lawyer’s Workplace charged Morales with felony counts of kidnapping to commit a sexual act, sexual penetration of an individual intoxicated or underneath sedation, and oral copulation of an individual intoxicated or underneath sedation, Aklufi stated.
