Uber Driver Allegedly Assaults Elderly Woman Who Asked Her To Stop Texting While Driving

The police in Houston are on the lookout for an Uber driver, who allegedly attacked an elderly client.

The incident occurred Monday after the 73-year-old customer asked the driver to stop texting while driving.

The accused, identified as 22-year-old Naponica Brooks, picked up the unidentified passenger and was on the way to the destination in northwest Harris County, when the elderly woman asked her not to text while driving, according to KPRC.

The victim claimed the driver had nearly hit another car on the freeway, according to deputies with Constable Mark Herman’s Office.

Brooks did not take the passenger’s request well and pulled into a parking lot near Senate Avenue. The enraged driver then demanded that the woman get out of the vehicle, before grabbing her purse and throwing it out. The woman told the cops Brooks also yanked her by the arm and forced her out of the vehicle.

When the victim tried to call 911, Brooks grabbed her phone and threw it on the ground. She then got inside her vehicle and sped away, leaving her customer behind.

Deputies said a witness in the parking lot saw the assault, and called 911. The witness was also able to provide the deputies with the driver’s license plate number. Investigators found the same car was involved in a recent aggravated assault case with the Baytown Police Department, which helped them find the accused's identity.

Investigators also acquired surveillance footage that captured the assault.

Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4, shared a post on Twitter about the wanted Uber driver, who was facing charges for the alleged crime.

“Naponica Brooks is currently wanted by law enforcement for injury to an elderly person and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. If you have any information regarding her whereabouts, you are urged to contact our dispatch or your local law enforcement,” said Constable Mark Herman, CBS DFW reported.

Uber also released a statement following the incident and said Brooks was no longer working for them as a driver, KHOU 11 News reported.

“The conduct described is completely unacceptable," Uber said in a statement, according to the outlet. "Violence of any kind is not tolerated on the Uber platform. We removed this driver’s access to the app and stand ready to assist law enforcement in their investigation."