Uber driver accused of trying to kidnap female passengers

An Uber driver allegedly kidnapped two women early Saturday morning, taking the women to a Point Breeze intersection and trying to lock them in the vehicle, according to Pittsburgh police.

Officers responded about 1:30 a.m. to the intersection of South Homewood and Penn avenues where two women reported their Uber driver kidnapped them, said Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri.

He said the driver was identified using his Uber app identification and photo.

Court records identified the man as 37-year-old Richard Lomotey, of Monaca.

The women told police that Lomotey commented on their looks and “did not follow the GPS directions to the requested address,” Togneri said.

Lomotey allegedly pulled over near the intersection, put the car in park and told the women, “You’re not going anywhere,” Togneri said. He allegedly tried to lock the doors, but one woman leapt from the backseat and the other woman followed.

Lomotey is charged with two counts each of kidnapping, false imprisonment and harassment.

Court records indicate that he was not in custody as of 7 p.m. Saturday.