SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — A man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of posing as a ride-share driver and assaulting a woman who got into his vehicle in Scottsdale, court records show.
On Feb. 25, the police department was notified about a "90-minute ride from hell" from a woman who reported being attacked by a man she thought to be the ride-share driver she ordered to pick her up.
The woman told police she had been drinking that evening and started to get nervous when she noticed the driver wasn't driving in the direction of her home address, court records show.
At about this point, the woman also noticed her cell phone had disappeared from the cup holder she placed it in after getting inside the vehicle.
As the driver pulled into a parking space, the woman recalled feeling "extremely concerned" before the driver allegedly began to touch and kiss the passenger.
The driver then moved the vehicle to another location and the woman tried to think of ways to dissuade him from trying to sexually assault her, records show.
The woman told police the driver eventually grabbed her and allegedly forced her to perform sexual acts on him.
After pulling the car into a neighborhood, the driver allegedly gave back the woman's phone and told her "you shouldn't put yourself in this situation" before letting her go.
The woman allowed investigators to inspect the transactions of her ride-share account and noticed the ride she requested on Feb. 25 was canceled by the account holder before the driver arrived. The woman told police she didn't cancel the request and claimed the suspect allegedly took her phone within "moments after getting into his vehicle," records show.
Video surveillance footage helped investigators to identify the suspect as 35-year-old Jose Quintanilla.
Police later learned the suspect's account for the ride-share company was "never officially activated" due to incomplete information.
Records show data retrieved from Quintanilla's cellphone placed his phone near the area where the victim was picked up in Scottsdale on the night of the incident. The suspect's phone was then turned off at almost the exact same time the woman's phone was turned off. The woman said she turned her phone back on after the suspect handed it to her.
Investigators noted in court records that the woman was not able to select Quintanilla out of a photo lineup.
Quintanilla has been booked into jail and is facing charges of kidnapping and sexual assault.
Scottsdale police said investigators have not connected Quintanilla to any other reports of passengers being attacked or harassed by drivers.
Watch 12News+ for free
You can now watch 12News content anytime, anywhere thanks to the 12News+ app!
The free 12News+ app from 12News lets users stream live events — including daily newscasts like "Today in AZ" and "12 News" and our daily lifestyle program, "Arizona Midday"—on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
12News+ showcases live video throughout the day for breaking news, local news, weather and even an occasional moment of Zen showcasing breathtaking sights from across Arizona.
Users can also watch on-demand videos of top stories, local politics, I-Team investigations, Arizona-specific features and vintage videos from the 12News archives.
Roku: Add the channel from the Roku store or by searching for "12 News KPNX."
Amazon Fire TV: Search for "12 News KPNX" to find the free 12News+ app to add to your account, or have the 12News+ app delivered directly to your Amazon Fire TV through Amazon.com or the Amazon app.
UP TO SPEED
Catch up on the latest news and stories on the 12News YouTube channel. Subscribe today.