A Lyft passenger battered and carjacked his driver in River North this weekend, then got caught when he parked the stolen vehicle to run into a gas station, according to prosecutors.
Relahn Davis, 28, allegedly ordered the ride-hail to take him from State and Division to the Englewood neighborhood around 10 p.m. Saturday. But, as the driver neared the intersection of LaSalle and Chicago, Davis became upset and began punching the driver in the back of his head, prosecutors said.
The driver pulled over, and Davis allegedly continued to punch him, then grabbed him by the neck and choked him until the victim ran from the car. Davis then climbed into the driver’s seat and drove away, according to prosecutors.
Chicago police surveillance camera operators reportedly saw Davis park the car and run into a gas station just a few blocks away. When Davis saw police swarming the service station, he raised his hands over his head and insisted he didn’t do anything, prosecutors said. The Lyft driver, who took pictures of the man who attacked him, identified Davis as the offender.
Prosecutors charged Davis with felony aggravated vehicular hijacking and battery. Judge John Lyke set bail at $5,000. Davis will be required to go onto electronic monitoring if he can post the mandatory $500 deposit bond, Lyke said.
