DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Three drivers with Uber are speaking out after they were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department in an undercover sting operation.
In an exclusive interview with CBS2’s Erica Nochlin, Roy Freeman, Michael Chadwick and Sid Lomeli say the way they were targeted was nothing short of entrapment. And they say it might scare new Uber drivers away.
All three of these drivers believe the “U” Uber logo in their windshield made them a target during what was supposed to be a typical Friday night on the job in Downtown L.A.
Each of them say they were flagged down by a woman, who asked if she could order a ride on the Uber app right then and there.
Uber is a ride service that lets people call drivers using a mobile app on their cell phone via GPS. All payment is handled through the app.
“A lady vigorously waved me down,” Freeman said.
Chadwick interjected, “I almost thought she maybe needed help or something.”
“She said, ‘Uber?!’ according to Lomeli. “I said, ‘Yeah, Uber.'”
Lomeli said, “Then the girl opened my back door. She said, ‘Come on, I really need to go to this place. I really need to go, please.'”
Freeman said, “She said, ‘I have a friend across the street, let me wave her over.'”
“My door was open and, next thing I know, the cops are behind with the sirens on,” Chadwick said.
Police arrested all three drivers and impounded their vehicles.
A Los Angeles Department of Transportation spokesperson confirms the agency participates in these types of operations, along with the LAPD. He says Uber drivers, and many others — such as limo drivers for example — are subject to arrest if a ride isn’t pre-arranged.
