Yaroslandys Elozegui Romero, an Uber driver in South Florida, was arrested on Saturday, March 8, 2025, following allegations of sexual assault on a female passenger. According to media reports, a woman was victimized by an Uber driver on the Dolphin Expressway late Sunday night, as reported by the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver, Yaroslandys Elozegui Romero, 35, was identified in an arrest report released on Monday. According to the report, the woman’s friend arranged an Uber for her at around 10 p.m. using his phone because hers was out of battery. Romero picked her up in his Toyota Highlander SUV. Upon entering the vehicle, she asked for a phone charger, which he provided. He then requested that she sit in the front seat to charge her phone.
While in the front seat, Romero allegedly began touching her arm and asked for a kiss. When she refused, he pulled over onto the westbound shoulder of State Road 836 near LeJune Road and drew her closer, as stated in the report. The woman reported that Romero became more aggressive as she resisted. She claims that Romero grabbed her by her arms and forcefully kissed her. He then forced her to touch his genitals. Police account that Romero subsequently pulled down his pants and forced her to perform a sexual act, after which he cleaned himself with a towel and dropped her at the intended destination as entered in the Uber app. Authorities tracked the SUV to Romero’s residence on NW 56th Street, where he was interviewed after being read his Miranda rights. He admitted to the woman’s narrative but claimed that she appeared intoxicated and was touching him. Police, however, noted in the report that she showed no signs of intoxication during their earlier interaction. During the investigation, police found that the vehicle Romero was driving was registered to another person and revealed that Romero was living at the person’s home, the report said.
Romero was taken to Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, facing charges of sexual battery, battery, and indecent exposure. A judge set bonds at $25,000 for the sexual battery and $29,000 each for the other charges. Judge Ariel Rodriguez commented, “These allegations are extremely troubling. This person should not be an Uber or Lyft, he shouldn’t be driving.”
Romero was ordered to stay away from the victim and is not allowed to work as a rideshare driver.
Rideshare Companies Are Responsible For Drivers’ Behavior
Rideshare services can be a convenient way to get around. Whether you’re traveling or need a ride home after a night out, companies like Uber and Lyft have provided a convenient alternative to taxis or car rentals. However, numerous people have been sexually abused by rideshare drivers in the past few years. A recent report released by Uber revealed that more than 3,000 sexual assaults were reported on the company’s 1.3 billion rides in 2018. Victims were both drivers and riders, including some incidents between riders. In instances of rape, 92% of the reported victims had been riders.
Uber customers have an expectation of proper vetting of their Uber drivers for qualifications, as well as for safety. Many Uber passengers are critical that Uber has not employed technology to deter sexual misconduct and ensure the safety of their passengers. It is unacceptable that there are employees who take advantage of trusting riders and break the law.
Horowitz Law has filed numerous sexual assault claims on behalf of clients sexually abused by their Uber or Lyft drivers. An employee of any company is never permitted to have unwanted sexual contact with a customer. If you have been a victim of sexual assault or sexual battery during an Uber or Lyft ride, or if you know someone who has, please contact our law firm at 888-283-9922 or send an e-mail to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com for a free consultation.