Maryland State Police arrested Eduardo Castillo, a 30-year-old man, on Saturday for allegedly assaulting a rideshare driver, consuming illegal drugs in the vehicle, and holding the driver against his will. Castillo faces charges of second-degree assault, false imprisonment, and drug-related offenses.
The incident began when the rideshare driver picked up Castillo in York, Pennsylvania, and proceeded to drive him to multiple destinations before heading towards Baltimore. Throughout the journey, Castillo is accused of seizing the driver’s phone on several occasions, smoking an illicit substance in the passenger seat, yelling at the driver, and striking him in the head as he drove.
Fearing for his safety, the driver managed to send a text message to his mother, pleading for assistance. The mother promptly contacted the police, who then alerted local law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the victim’s vehicle.
State troopers from the Golden Ring Barrack in Essex, Maryland, were successful in locating the rideshare vehicle and initiated a traffic stop on I-83 near York Road. During the stop, troopers discovered illegal drugs in the car, leading to Castillo’s arrest.
Following the arrest, Castillo was first taken to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment before being transported to the Baltimore County Detention Center. There, he appeared before a district court commissioner and was subsequently released.
The driver was also taken to a medical facility to receive treatment for potential exposure to controlled dangerous substances during the harrowing ordeal.
The Maryland State Police stated that the investigation into this unsettling incident remains active and ongoing.