An Uber driver who is accused of sexually assaulting one of his passengers turned himself into the Summit County Jail on Tuesday night.
Brandon Franklin, 33, of Tallmadge, is accused of sexually assaulting an intoxicated driver after giving her a ride to a home in southeast Akron.
The woman told Akron police that she woke up in her room to discover Franklin was sexually assaulting her.
"She doesn't remember much. All she remembers is waking up and the Uber driver she recalls was sexually assaulting her. She had the presence to kick him out of her room," said Captain Daniel Zampelli.
News 5 is not identifying the victim, but she said the experience was traumatizing and she will no longer use the Uber app.
"I take Uber to get home safe and that wasn't the case," she said.
Akron police signed a sexual battery warrant for Franklin’s arrest Tuesday. According to Summit County court records, Franklin has multiple driving offenses that date back to 2005. He was found guilty on five cases that involved suspending his license or driving with a suspended license.
Uber released this statement regarding the incident:
What's been described is deeply upsetting and as soon as we became aware, we banned this driver from the app. We have provided information to the Akron Police Department and will continue to support them throughout their investigation.
An Uber spokesperson said a background check was done on Franklin but he wasn't disqualified because his suspensions took place beyond the company's lookback period.
Drivers cannot contract with Uber if a motor vehicle report shows more than three incidents over the last three years.
Franklin is scheduled to appear in Akron Municipal Court Thursday morning.
