A Florida man rang in the new year behind bars after attacking an Uber driver and attempting to steal his vehicle.
33-year-old Derek Strang of Cocoa, Florida, was arrested on Dec. 28 and booked into Brevard County jail on one count of carjacking with a weapon.
According to the arrest affidavit, Strang ordered his ride with Uber and was in the backseat of a Jeep when he slid behind the driver and placed his hands around the driver’s neck.
According to the report, the driver pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant where he was able to escape the man’s grip and then called 911, the report said.
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But investigators say that Strang also called 911 to report that he was being kidnaped.
Strang then jumped into the driver’s seat and started to drive away, however, the Jeep had a safety feature that prevented the theft.
However, Strang was able to drive the Jeep to the far side of the parking before the brakes engaged.
Strang was arrested by deputies with the Brevard County Sheriff’s office and booked on no bond while awaiting hearing.
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