Fremont Lyft driver arrested on suspicion of raping unconscious passenger

FREMONT, Calif. (KTVU) - A ride share driver was charged with three counts of sexually assaulting an intoxicated passenger.

According to Fremont police, Jaswanthreddy Baireddy, was driving for Lyft on April 8, when he responded to the victim's location in Oakland.  Baireddy picked up the victim and drove her to an address in Berkeley.  When the victim's friend was not at the address, Baireddy advised he was now "off duty" and offered to give the victim a ride to her residence.  The victim believed she was going to be taken home.

Baireddy drove past the victim's exit on the freeway and instead stopped at a drive thru restaurant to get her food. He eventually brought the victim to his own residence in the 38000 block of Camden Street in Fremont where police said he offered her marijuana then sexually assaulted her.   Following the assault, police said Baireddy drove the victim home.

On May 4, the Alameda County District Attorney's office charged 24-year-old Jaswanthreddy Baireddy of Fremont with forced oral copulation where victim is unconscious, forced digital penetration where victim is prevented from resisting due to intoxicating substance and rape by means where victim is unconscious.

Baireddy remains in Alameda County custody without bail.  His next scheduled court date is set for later this week.

As a Lyft operator, Baireddy drove a rented white Hyundai Elantra which he returned prior to his arrest.

In a statement, a Lyft spokesperson wrote: 
These allegations are deeply disturbing. "The safety of the Lyft community is our number one priority, and we have absolutely zero tolerance for this behavior on the platform. As soon as we were made aware of these allegations, we immediately deactivated the driver. We have reached out to the passenger and are in communication with authorities to support the investigation."

Investigators are asking anyone with information on this incident or any other incidents involving Baireddy to call Detective C. Tang at 510-790-6900 or via email at ctang@fremont.gov.