On August 23, 2018 at about 10:07 AM, Azusa Police Officers responded to the 800 block of N. Azusa Avenue regarding a sexual battery investigation. The female victim had called an Uber driver to pick her up at that location. When the alleged Uber driver arrived, the female victim noted that the vehicle was different than that of the one the service had assigned to her. The victim assumed a simple mistake had been made and elected to enter the vehicle.
During the course of the investigation, Azusa Police Department Detectives identified Luis Gerardo Pena-Ayala, a 40 year old Azusa resident, as the suspect. It was confirmed that he is a driver for Uber, but was not the driver assigned to the original pick up. He was arrested this morning in the city of Azusa without incident. Pena-Ayala is being held at the Azusa Police Department jail for charges of Kidnapping and Sexual Battery. His bail has been set at $1,000,000.
The Azusa Police Department urges anybody who uses any type of ride-share or transportation applications to be mindful of the driver and vehicle that is assigned to you. If there is any suspicion that the driver or vehicle is not the one assigned to you, consider contacting the company for confirmation and/or not getting into the vehicle.
Have Information?
If you have any information regarding this case or subjects involved in this case, please call the Azusa Police Department at (626) 812-3200. For any media inquiries, request to speak to Lt Chivas. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may do so by clicking here.