A ride share driver accused of sexually assaulting a 21-year-old woman in the city’s north end has been charged.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, police were called to the area of Caledonia Road and Lawrence Avenue West for a report of a sexual assault.
At the time, a woman ordered a ride share before entering a vehicle.
“A man who identified himself as a ride share driver approached the woman and she got into the vehicle,” Const. Caroline De Kloet said.
De Kloet said the man operating the vehicle allegedly drove the victim to a secluded area and sexually assaulted her. He then allegedly stole her cell phone and forced her out of the vehicle.
“This man, who identified himself as a ride share driver, he is in fact a ride share driver, both with Uber and Lyft, both companies have been cooperating with police in this investigation, but this however was not the driver that this 21-year-old woman had hired to drive her,” De Kloet said.
Uber said the described incident is “horrible and has no place anywhere.”
“As soon as we learned of this report, we immediately removed the individual’s access to the app and revoke his licence from the city,” a statement issued by Uber spokesperson Kayla Whaling reads.
“We are fully cooperating with law enforcement and will continue to support their investigation.”
In a statement, Lyft said the matter was “frightening.”
“While this did not occur on the Lyft platform, as soon as we became aware of the incident, we permanently removed the driver’s access to Lyft. We have been in touch with the authorities and will continue to help in every way we can.”
On Monday, police said 33-year-old Suhail Siddiqi, of Ajax, had been arrested in connection with the investigation. He has been charged with sexual assault, robbery and overcome resistance by choking.
Siddiqi appeared in court Tuesday afternoon and was released on $5,000 bail.
De Kloet said this is an “ongoing investigation.”
“We do believe that there may be other victims,” De Kloet said.
Anyone with further information is asked to contact investigators at 416-808-7474 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477).
