She Booked a Lyft. He Drove Her Somewhere She Did Not Choose.

She Trusted the App

A Lyft driver in Cary, North Carolina, has been charged with felony kidnapping, sexual battery, driving while impaired, and indecent exposure after a passenger said he drove her in the wrong direction, refused to stop, and assaulted her. Ryan James Davey, 30, of Cary, was arrested Wednesday, April 1, 2026, by local authorities after the rider contacted police.

“I feel violated. I’m scared for my life now,” the passenger told WRAL News. She asked not to be identified.

What the Passenger Reported

According to the arrest warrant reviewed by WRAL, Davey allegedly grabbed the rider’s face and forced her to kiss him against her will during the ride. “He yanked me by my coat and tried to start kissing me,” she told reporters. She was unable to exit the vehicle during the assault.

Davey was confirmed as a Lyft driver by the City-County Bureau of Identification. His charges include felony first-degree kidnapping - which in North Carolina can be applied when a victim is unlawfully restrained and confined without their consent - in addition to the sexual battery count and the impaired driving charge.

How Rideshare Kidnapping Charges Work

The application of felony kidnapping charges in rideshare assault cases has become more common as prosecutors have worked to match charges to the specific nature of crimes committed inside moving vehicles. When a driver refuses to stop, reroutes without consent, or physically prevents a passenger from leaving, the confinement element required for kidnapping charges is typically met.

The Cary case closely mirrors patterns documented in other high-profile rideshare assault cases across the country. Federal prosecutors in Houston charged four former Uber drivers with federal kidnapping in January 2026 under similar circumstances - each accused of diverting routes and confining intoxicated women who could not exit the vehicle.

The Passenger Said She Knew Something Was Wrong

The rider told WRAL she realized quickly the route was wrong and that Davey was not taking her to her destination. Her account of the assault began while the vehicle was still moving and she had no ability to exit safely.

The case has renewed public attention in the Cary and Raleigh area on rideshare safety practices - specifically the features Lyft and Uber both offer that allow passengers to share trip status with a trusted contact, verify the driver’s name and vehicle before entering, and report concerns in real time. Lyft did not respond to requests for comment on Davey’s employment status at the time of reporting.

What Riders Are Encouraged to Do

Safety advocates consistently recommend that rideshare passengers confirm the driver’s name, photo, and license plate before getting in the car - not after. Both Lyft and Uber provide real-time driver information in the app immediately after a ride is matched.

Passengers are also encouraged to use the in-app trip-sharing feature, which sends a live link of the route to a friend or family member. If a driver deviates from the expected route or a passenger feels unsafe, ending the trip and calling 911 is the recommended course of action. Exiting a slow-moving vehicle in a populated area is considered preferable to remaining in a vehicle with a driver whose behavior has become threatening.

Davey remained in custody pending further proceedings as of this reporting. The investigation is active.

References: Cary rideshare driver charged with kidnapping, DWI, sexual assault