Kingston ride-share driver charged with sexual assault
Kingston Police have now arrested and charged a Kingston rideshare driver allegedly responsible for sexual assault of a passenger.
According to Kingston Police, they first became aware of the suspect in early July when a woman stepped forward to file a complaint about a driver who had been following her in a vehicle in downtown Kingston.
In that incident, which took place on Tuesday, Jun. 28, 2022, between 2:00-3:00 a.m., the 24-year-old victim was walking alone in the area of Division Street and Colborne Street in downtown Kingston when she was approached and followed by a white crossover-type SUV.
According to Kingston Police Media Relations Officer Cam Mack, the following incident occurred on Sunday, Jul. 3, 2022 at around 2:20 a.m., when a female was walking home and an individual stopped near her, asking if she wanted a ride and asserting that he was a driver with a rideshare company. The female got in and, police say, during the short ride the driver assaulted her. She was able to jump out of the vehicle when the driver stopped at a stop sign.
The Criminal Investigations Unit began an investigation and noticed the matching descriptions between the two incidents. Canvassing for video, they were able to obtain surveillance footage in the areas involved. Together with other public tips, police were able to piece together more information on the vehicle, including the make and model, Mack told the Kingstonist in an interview.
Then, with the corroboration of data-based evidence obtained by investigators, grounds were substantiated for the arrest of the accused male, Mack said.
The suspect, 50-year-old Hassan Al Madani, was arrested on Thursday, Jul. 28, 2022 and was subsequently charged with Sexual Assault, Harassment By Threatening Conduct To Other Person, and Harassment By Watching And Besetting.
Mack credited the astute work of investigators, as well as the assistance of the public who provided surveillance photos and tips, for the successful apprehension of the individual.