Lyft driver accused of sexually assaulting passenger

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A local Lyft driver is locked up Thursday and charged with sexually assaulting a man he picked up. 28/22 News first reported about the arrest of 39-year-old Edwin Valentin Perez on Thursday morning.

The victim says he was helpless inside that car and could not protect himself.

State police investigators say this is not the first time Valentine Perez has been accused of a crime involving a ride-share passenger, so they are concerned there may be other victims out there.

“I had no feeling in my body to even get help right away because they have an app thing that would get police right away and couldn’t even do that,” the victim said.

“Happened too fast?” 28/22 News Reporter Andy Mehalshick asked.

“Yes,” the victim replied.

The victim of the sexual assault reached out to the I-Team saying he wanted to tell his story so that other ride-share customers understand they must stay alert in a stranger’s vehicle.

State troopers say Perez used an inhalant-type substance to incapacitate the man and then once incapacitated, Perz sexually assaulted him.

The assault allegedly happened inside a Toyota Rav 4 on Tuesday.

“I was going over to Plymouth to see my buddy and hang out, and all of a sudden, I was getting this weird odor. I tried rolling my windows down. I was watching, went over the Nanticoke Bridge, the doors were locked, I actually tried opening the door, I couldn’t get out,” the victim explained.

He says Perez had a bottle with liquid in it.

“He kept shaking the bottle and I kept getting high off it. I had nothing else to do. I was going, weak, and I was like falling asleep. I was trying to fight to stay awake,” the victim continued.

He says he passed out and woke to find Perez assaulting him. He was dropped off in a parking lot in Plymouth.

State police say Perez drove for both Uber and Lyft in recent months. There was a complaint filed in May.

“We did have a previous incident with him that didn’t rise to the level of sexual assault as this one did. It only rose to a summary offense of harassment and disorderly conduct. So this is the first incident that we’re aware of sexual abuse,” said Wilkes-Barre Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Bill Evans.

Valentin Perez was arrested without incident on Wednesday and taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

Valentin Perez was driving a red 2012 Toyota RAV 4 while working as a Lyft driver.

Anyone who suspects they may have been a victim of a similar crime or has any information about the incident is asked to contact the Troop P Wilkes-Barre Criminal Investigation Unit at 570-822-5515.

“The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or society. We contacted the rider to offer support, have permanently banned the driver from the Lyft platform, and stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation.”

Lyft Spokesperson

A spokesperson for Uber tells the I-Team Perez was banned from driving for the company in May, but did not say why he was banned.

For more information regarding Lyft’s and Uber’s safety protocols, head over to their website.

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