Seekonk Man Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting and Attempting to Rape Uber Driver

SEEKONK (WBSM) — A Seekonk man was arrested for allegedly assaulting, kidnapping and attempting to rape a female Uber driver early Saturday morning.

According to Seekonk Police, multiple patrol units responded at about 1:35 a.m. on April 26 for a reported possible motor vehicle crash in the area of County Street and Arrowhead Road. They arrived to find a vehicle across the lawn of a residence.

The female driver of the vehicle told police she is an Uber driver and was just assaulted by a male passenger who had fled the scene.

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Police said the woman told them she had picked up the man in North Seekonk with a destination in South Seekonk. While en route, he then provided a different destination address. She said when they arrived at the new drop-off location and the man asked her back down a long, unlit driveway. Police said the woman initially refused but ultimately agreed to do so.

“While in the driveway, the suspect began to allegedly assault the victim,” police said. “The victim was able to place her vehicle in drive and took off down the road while the assault continued.”

Once the vehicle came to rest on that front lawn, the suspect allegedly stole the victim’s cell phone and fled the vehicle. The woman honked the car horn in order to get a resident to come out and assist her by calling police.

Police launched an investigation and by late afternoon Sunday, they were able to take the suspect – identified as James D. Oakes, 25, of Seekonk – into custody.

Oakes is charged with strangulation or suffocation, kidnapping, assault with intent to rape, assault and battery, unarmed robbery, intimidation of a witness and interfering with a ride share driver.