Lyft driver accused of refusing to let female passenger out in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) — A rideshare driver for Lyft in Lincoln was arrested after refusing to let a passenger out of his vehicle last month, according to police.

Officers took 52-year-old Yoleisy Rondon into custody on Wednesday, and he was later charged with first-degree false imprisonment. His arrest comes after a woman called 911 on Christmas Eve.

The call came in from a 52-year-old woman who claimed she’d been held against her will by Rondon after she called for a ride to the People’s City Mission. She was picked up near North 27th and W streets, but the ride stopped just short of its destination.

Police think Rondon, the driver, stopped the vehicle a few blocks from the mission and asked the woman for sex. She refused and tried to get out, but Rondon drove her to his apartment before taking her to get alcohol near North 24th and Superior streets, an arrest affidavit shows.

The woman told Rondon she wanted out and asked to be let out near a hotel, but she wasn’t able to leave the vehicle. She tried escaping, but Rondon grabbed at her arm, police wrote. The woman was able to escape near North 24th and Superiors streets before dialing 911.

Authorities gathered Rondon’s phone records, data from Google Translate and trip information from Lyft which confirmed the woman’s story, court records show. Police conducted surveillance near Rondon’s apartment and arrested him on Tuesday.

After an interview with officers, police wrote that Rondon thought the woman was homeless and, therefore, vulnerable.

At his arraignment Wednesday, a Lancaster County judge set his bond at 10% of $20,000. His bond was posted Thursday morning.

Rondon is expected back in court on Feb. 12.

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