Passenger accused of sexual battery against ride-share driver

ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. - A man was arrested after he allegedly inappropriately touched his ride-share driver and prevented her from calling 911, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Omar Lewis, 44, was arrested on the charges of sexual battery and interference with the reporting of a crime.

Around 2 a.m. on Saturday, a caller told dispatch that his girlfriend was a ride-share driver and had just texted him that she was being sexually assaulted by a passenger, reports said.

The victim told her boyfriend that the passenger wasn't letting her make any phone calls, so she couldn't call 911, reports said.

Officers with the Mishawaka Police Department were given a description of the vehicle and its last-known location.

Police eventually found the vehicle and, when they approached it, found the victim and the passenger, identified as Lewis.

Lewis appeared to be intoxicated and was yelling at the victim for having him removed, officers said.

The victim said that after she picked up Lewis from a bar, he began to touch her inappropriately, reports said.

She said he then tried to kiss her.

Lewis also prevented her from calling 911, which is why she texted her boyfriend for help, reports said.

The victim was distraught and unable to drive home so her boyfriend came to help.

Lewis is being held at the St. Joseph County Jail on no bond. He was on federal probation at the time of the incident, according to the probable cause affidavit.

He will be arraigned in court on Wednesday.