Yesterday evening, Maryland State Police apprehended an Uber passenger who verbally and physically assaulted the driver in Baltimore County.
The individual responsible for the assault has been identified as Eduardo Castillo, aged 30, with no fixed address. Castillo is facing charges of second-degree assault, false imprisonment, and additional drug-related offenses. Following his arrest, he was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment and subsequently transferred to the Baltimore County Detention Center. After appearing before a district court commissioner, he was released.
To protect the victim’s privacy, their identity is not being disclosed at this time. The victim was the driver of a 2012 Hyundai Accent involved in the incident. Due to possible exposure to controlled dangerous substances during the Uber ride, the driver was transported via ambulance to the Greater Baltimore Medical Center (GBMC) for evaluation.
The incident came to the attention of Maryland State Police’s Golden Ring Barrack around 3:50 p.m. when they received a 911 call reporting an Uber driver being held against their will during a passenger transport. The preliminary investigation revealed that the Uber driver picked up Castillo in York, PA, and proceeded to various locations before heading to Baltimore City.
During the trip, Castillo allegedly seized the driver’s phone multiple times. The victim informed the police that Castillo was smoking an illicit substance in the front passenger seat, shouting at him, and physically assaulting him while he was driving. Fearing for his safety, the driver managed to send a distress text message to his mother, requesting her to seek help. Subsequently, the victim’s mother contacted the police, leading to an immediate search for the vehicle.
Troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop on northbound I-83 near York Road. Upon approaching the vehicle, the troopers observed signs of drug impairment on Castillo. Illegal drugs were also discovered inside the vehicle. Castillo was arrested without incident at the scene.
Assistance was provided by the Baltimore County Police Department, and personnel from the Baltimore County Fire Department were also present during the incident. The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to gather information and evidence related to the incident.
