Taxicab Driver Suspected Of Raping Passenger In Petaluma

PETALUMA, CA — A cab driver is accused of raping a customer Tuesday night in Petaluma, police said.

At 11:41 p.m. Tuesday, Petaluma police officers responded to Bodega Avenue, west of Howard Street, on a report of a sexual assault that had just taken place.

The victim told police she'd called J’s Taxi and requested a ride from the downtown area to a residence on the west side of town, Petaluma police Lt. Jeremy Walsh said.

The cab driver, Noel Ortiz Cortez, 41, of Petaluma, picked up the woman and drove to the requested destination. It is alleged that while the victim was still in the cab, Cortez got into the back seat through the back driver's side door, closed the door and sexually assaulted her.

After the assault, the victim got out of the car and called police, Walsh said.

Officers and detectives canvassed the area and located video evidence that corroborated the victim’s account, Walsh said.

Cortez was tracked down and detained on suspicion of sexual assault.

Detectives recovered forensic evidence from Cortez and the taxicab, and Cortez was arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail.

Cortez was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail Wednesday night.

Police asked anyone with further information relevant to the investigation to contact Petaluma police Detective Ronald Flores at Rflores@cityofpetaluma.org or by phone at 707-778-4450.