On October 30, 2022, at about12:09 in the morning, a female victim reported that she was waiting near her residence for a rideshare vehicle. The vehicle had been ordered for her by a friend, and the victim did not know the description of the vehicle she was waiting for. The victim observed a vehicle near her residence and thought it was the rideshare vehicle. She contacted that driver and entered the front seat of the vehicle thinking it was the correct vehicle.
As they began to drive towards the destination, the suspect had sexual contact with the victim. After a short time, the driver dropped the victim off at the destination said police.
Newark Police have identified the driver and the case is under investigation by Newark Police Detectives.
On October 31, 2022, at about 6:00 in the afternoon, a sexual assault was reported to Newark Police. The assault occurred in the early morning hours of October 31, 2022. The female victim reported that she ordered a ride through a rideshare app. When the vehicle arrived, she entered the vehicle and they drove towards her destination. During the ride, the driver stopped the vehicle and began to sexually assault the victim. The victim was dropped off by the driver and later contacted the police. The case is being investigated by Newark Police Detectives.
Both victims were examined at an area hospital, but were not injured. No known weapons were involved.
The suspects in the two incidents are different people.