More victims of ex-Uber, Lyft driver reported

A one-time high school and college star basketball player was behind bars Wednesday on suspicion of sexually assaulting three young women while working as a driver for Lyft and Uber in northern San Diego County.

Murphy says investigators believe there may be additional victims.

Vague was arrested Friday at his home after an 18-year-old college student said earlier that day that she was assaulted by her Uber driver in San Marcos, north of San Diego.

The driver picked her up in his blue mini-van, Escondido police Lt. Justin Murphy said at a news briefing.

The former college basketball player, who is 7 feet tall and weighs 270 pounds, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to multiple sexual assault charges. Spokeswomen for both companies said Vague has been removed from their ride-sharing driver lists. It wasn’t immediately known if he has an attorney.

During the investigation, police discovered more possible victims, including two 19-year-old women in Escondido. Among them was a 19-year-old woman, awaiting the arrival of the first woman in Escondido, Murphy said. Vague had given one of them a Lyft ride on September 7, and the other was waiting at the destination, Murphy said.

“Jeremy Vague subsequently arrested at his home later the same evening”, Murphy said.

“Uber and Lyft have been cooperating with investigators throughout the process and are providing information requested through the legal process”, Murphy explained.

Lyft said in a statement that the company has “a strict zero-tolerance policy for any type of violent behavior, abuse or harassment”. “Drivers on the Lyft platform undergo a thorough criminal background check across local, state and federal databases that go back in time to the maximum extent allowable by law”.

Escondido Police say investigators were not aware of the initial report until after the September 16 investigation began.

Uber is working with law enforcement officials in their investigation. The superintendent of Calvin Christian High School, Terry Kok, said Vague coached the girls’ team for five years “but is not now coaching or acting in any other capacity at Calvin Christian School”.

In addition, Vague played one season of college basketball at Utah State, according the team’s website, and coached girls basketball at Calvin Christian High School in Escondido for several years, according to reports.

According to court documents, Vague is charged with felony counts of assault with intent to commit a specific crime, sexual penetration with use of force and false imprisonment and one misdemeanor charge of indecent exposure.

The legislation would prohibit registered sex offenders and those convicted of violent felonies or driving under the influence in the past seven years from driving for ride-hailing companies.

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