Florida Woman Bit, Strangled, Scratched and Choked Out Her Uber Driver

The whole concept of Uber is really kind of interesting to break down. Throughout our entire upbringing, most people are warned not to get into a car with a stranger. That van that says “free candy” on the side is one that you’re definitely going to want to avoid.

However, the entire business model of Uber is facilitated by two strangers getting into a car with one another. Now, the Uber experience isn’t just a shot in the dark that prays for safety as Uber does have some policies in place to try to ensure that the users of its ridesharing app are going to have as safe of an experience as possible. When it really comes down to it, though, they can only do so much.

For a 22-year-old Uber driver by the name of Michael Hassey Jr., he would be greeted with quite a surprise when picking up a fare. After picking up 55-year-old Michele Stilwell, Hassey says that she was asleep for most of the ride.

Simple enough, right? Think again.

Upon waking up Stileell began to violently attack the Uber driver. The 22-year-old didn’t seem to know what to do as he was being choked, beaten, and strangled by the woman in the backseat.

The driver says that he was disappointed by Uber’s response as he hasn’t heard from them. Uber did speak to a local news outlet, though, saying that they removed those rider’s access to the app. They went on to call the situation “disturbing,” also saying that violence of any kind is not tolerated on the Uber app.

Police say that a woman will be met with two felony charges of aggravated battery and tampering with a witness. WFLA 8 approached her home and managed to get an answer from a man claiming to be Stilwell’s husband saying “She doesn’t really remember anything, that’s all I can say right now.”