Florida woman arrested for biting, trying to strangle her Uber driver mid-ride
A Florida woman was arrested over the weekend for drunkenly biting and trying to choke an Uber driver.
Michele Stilwell, 55, was unprovoked when she attempted to strangle the unnamed driver, WFLA reported Tuesday.
Stilwell, who was arrested Saturday night shortly after 9 p.m., has been charged with aggravated battery for the assault in St. Petersburg, according to a Pinellas County arrest affidavit obtained by The Smoking Gun.
Stilwell “did intentionally or knowingly touch or strike the victim, against the will of the victim, thereby causing great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the victim,” when she “strangled, bit, and scratched the victim,” according to the affidavit.
The victim was driving when Stilwell “reached forward and proceeded to choke” him from behind, the document states.
The man tried to pull over, only for Stilwell to crawl into the front of the car “and bite the victim deeply on the neck drawing blood,” according to the affidavit.
After deeply scratching the driver, Stilwell allegedly “continued to bite, strangle and claw at the victim who was unable to defend himself as he was being attacked from behind,” said the document, which notes bystanders then helped to pull the driver free.
Stilwell was also charged with tampering with a witness and was released at 2:30 a.m. Sunday on a combined bond of $15,000 bond, according to WFLA.
