Police: Man claiming to be Uber driver kidnapped, raped woman in Calif.
LOS ANGELES-- Los Angeles police have arrested a man they say posed as an Uber driver to kidnap and rape a woman he lured into his SUV.
Dartanyun Smith, 39, of Los Angeles was arrested Saturday morning at a home in South Los Angeles, Los Angeles police Chief Charlie Beck said, CBS Los Angeles reported.
Smith was booked on suspicion of kidnapping and rape in connection with the April 3 attack. He is being held on $1 million bail.
Police said the woman had apparently called for an Uber driver and was waiting for the ride when the suspect pulled alongside her and asked if she was waiting for Uber. He then convinced her that he was the Uber driver, and the woman got into the vehicle, police said.
Police say he drove a short distance, parked and attacked her.
Beck said the woman fought back, was choked unconscious at least three times, and her screams alerted neighbors.
"She was brutally sexually assaulted," Beck said.
Responding officers could see the assault in progress, and officers tried to get into the locked vehicle. Eventually, they opened fire at the suspect, who was not struck and drove off.
The woman managed to escape a few blocks away.
Police say DNA evidence helped lead to the arrest.
Smith has what authorities called an "extensive" criminal record that includes time in prison for robbery.