Uber driver allegedly tries to kidnap passenger in Boston: Police – Everett Post

By EMILY SHAPIRO, ABC News

(BOSTON) – An Uber driver accused of locking a woman in his car is due to appear in court for the first time on Monday.

Kamal Essalak, 47, of Acton, Massachusetts, was arrested Saturday for kidnapping, Boston police said.

The victim said when she got in the car Thursday she thought the driver was acting “strangely” and she “asked to be dropped off and let out,” Boston police said.

When the suspect stopped the car, the woman tried to open the door, but the child locks in the back had been activated, police said.

“When the victim started yelling and banging on the glass to draw attention to the unfolding situation, the suspect got into the back of the vehicle and laughed regularly,” police said.

The woman quickly slid around the suspect and into the driver’s seat, where she could unlock the door and escape, police said.

Uber said in a statement to ABC News, “What has been reported is horrific and something that no one should go through. As soon as we found out about this, we immediately revoked this driver’s access to Uber. “

Essalak’s attorney told ABC’s Boston WCVB subsidiary that “he is a family man and this is completely out of the blue” and called it a “shocking charge”.