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Uber Driver Attacked with Mace and Taser in Front of Waldorf Astoria

By Maya Rajamani | December 9, 2015 6:43pm
 Police said a woman assaulted a 48-year-old Uber driver in front of the Waldorf Astoria on Dec. 2.
Police said a woman assaulted a 48-year-old Uber driver in front of the Waldorf Astoria on Dec. 2.
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Uber

MIDTOWN — A woman upset over a canceled ride threw alcohol at an Uber driver, sprayed him in the face with Mace and used a Taser on him in front of the famed Waldorf Astoria hotel, police said.

The 48-year-old driver, who said he worked for Uber, was about to leave the curb in front of the luxury hotel after canceling a ride on a woman who showed up late for her pickup when the two got into an argument over the cancelation, police said.

But as he pulled away from the curb outside 301 Park Ave. at about 3:30 a.m. on Dec. 2, he claimed the woman cursed at him and threw alcohol in his face, the NYPD said.

He stopped his car, at which point she sprayed him in the face with Mace, took a black stun gun out of her purse and shocked him in the left wrist, according to police.

The driver, who lives in Brooklyn, was treated by EMS at the scene and taken to Bellevue Hospital. He also managed to take a photo of the suspect on his phone, police said.

Police did not release the driver's photo of the woman, and said they had not arrested her as of Wednesday.

A representative for Uber said the company "deeply regret[s] this incident and stand[s] ready to assist in any investigation."

“Upon hearing this report, we immediately closed the rider's account," the representative added.

The Waldorf Astoria did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.