Baltimore police have arrested a man accused of targeting ride-hailing drivers in a string of armed carjackings in the city. (WBFF)
Police said a unit with the Warrant Apprehension Task Force arrested the suspect Oct. 8, and the information was released Tuesday. Charging documents obtained by FOX45 News identify the suspect as 23-year-old Caron Davis, who faces several charges, including carjacking, first-degree assault and use of a firearm in a violent crime.
The charges stem from three incidents that occurred within one week, between Sept. 19 through 22, in the 1500 block of Montpelier Street, the 2600 block of Tyler Street and the 2800 block of Waldorf Avenue, police said.
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Jamie Dobson, identified as a concerned resident who relies on ride-share companies for transportation, said the allegations are alarming.
“Just shocked and danger. This may make you scared to even want to even do any kind of transportation nowadays. I don’t drive, but I’m scared for anybody that does drive,” Dobson said.
According to police, Davis lured drivers from the Baltimore Sedan Company on Belair Road to pickup locations, got into their cars and then took the vehicles at gunpoint on three separate occasions.
In the Montpelier Street incident, the driver told police a man got into the back seat, pulled out a handgun and told him not to touch anything and get out of the car. The suspect then drove away in the driver’s 2004 Toyota Camry, police said. The driver’s Samsung cellphone and tablet were still inside the vehicle.
There was no comment from the sedan company.
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A former driver for the company, who asked to remain anonymous and was identified as “Benjamin,” described a separate incident from his time driving for the company, when he said a female called for a pickup but a man later called him with directions. When he arrived, he said, no one came outside.
“When I finally show up to the address, nobody came out,” Benjamin said. Asked if he thought something was wrong, he responded: “Terribly wrong!”
Benjamin said he believed he may have been set up for a crime. “I think it was a robbery (about to happen), he said.
Asked what he did next, Benjamin said, “I drove away and made a report to the dispatcher, telling them that that phone, that number was a risky number.”
Dobson also urged caution for drivers and riders.
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“When you get inside a car, you have to be careful where you’re going in your own car and when you’re traveling anywhere these days, because you never know who’s who,” she said.
Investigators said they traced the internet-based phone numbers used to request the rides through account, IP address and <a href="https://myappsplus.com/which-apple-home-devices-get-siri-ai-and-when/” title=”Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When”>Apple records, ultimately linking the calls to Davis and his iPhone.
Police also reviewed body-camera video from an unrelated August call involving Davis. According to charging documents, the video showed him using what appeared to be an iPhone to request a ride from 1509 Montpelier Street, the same pickup address used in the Sept. 19 carjacking.
Follow FOX45 reporter Keith Daniels on X and Facebook. Send tips to Kdaniels@sbgtv.com.
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