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Hialeah rideshare driver arrested after 17-year-old reports assault, police say
A 45-year-old driver was arrested Thursday on a charge of lewd and lascivious touching of a minor after a 17-year-old passenger reported unwanted contact during a ride and at her home, according to police records. The allegations have not been proven in court.
A 45-year-old rideshare driver was arrested Thursday after a 17-year-old passenger accused him of unwanted sexual contact during a ride in Hialeah and again after he dropped her at home, according to an arrest report and Miami-Dade jail records.
Vicente Fermin Rodriguez Hernandez was booked on a charge of lewd and lascivious touching of a minor. The accusation is not a finding of guilt.
The teen told investigators she requested a rideshare Wednesday and that Rodriguez Hernandez complimented her during the trip, called her “guapa” and repeatedly asked for a hug, the report said. She agreed to one, and he parked and moved into the back seat beside her, according to the report.
The teen alleged that he kissed her without consent and touched her, then tried to put his hand inside her pants. She said she pushed his hand away and told him no, but he continued touching her over her clothing and tried again to reach inside her pants, the report said.
After returning to the driver’s seat, he drove her home, where she said he kissed her again without consent and gave her his phone number. The report said he later texted that he “liked their kisses”; she replied that she was not looking for a relationship.
Rodriguez Hernandez, whom the report listed as living in California, was taken into custody and invoked his right to remain silent, authorities said. Attorney information was not available in the records cited.