Lyft Driver Sexually Assaulted Intoxicated Woman: Police

RAMSEY COUNTY, MN — Authorities say a Lyft driver from Burnsville sexually assaulted an intoxicated women while giving her a ride late last year. Ahmed Tawane Abdi, 39, faces fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct.

The charge against Abdi was filed Thursday in Ramsey County, the Pioneer Press reported.

The incident happened on Aug. 5, 2017, authorities say. Abdi picked the woman and her friend up from a Minneapolis bar in the early morning hours.

As she started falling asleep in the front passenger seat, Abdi started to touch her, the woman told police. Her friend told authorities he saw Abdi’s hand on the woman's vaginal area, the criminal complaint states.

The woman called police after Abdi tried to grope her a second time at the end of the ride, according to investigators.

Lyft released the following statement on the allegations:

"The incident described is horrific and our hearts go out to the passenger. We permanently banned the driver from our platform upon learning of the allegations, have been in contact with law enforcement regarding their investigation, and have been in touch with the passenger to extend our full support. The safety of our community is our top priority."

Read much more at the Pioneer Press.

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Photo by Isaac Brekken/Getty Images for Lyft