Man UI student thought to be Uber driver charged with kidnapping, sexual assault
May 14—CHAMPAIGN — University of Illinois police arrested a man from Charleston on Friday after he allegedly engaged in nonconsensual touching with a student who thought he was her Uber driver.
Police received a call from the student around 3:30 a.m. Friday when she reported that she had entered the vehicle of Hatammyrat Hudaynazarov, under the impression that it was her Uber.
Hudaynazarov allegedly began driving in the wrong direction and making suggestive comments before touching and kissing her.
When the student tried to leave the vehicle, Hudaynazarov locked the doors, but she was able to escape when he slowed for a red light on Green Street.
She approached a group of people who walked her home, then had a friend call the police.
A UIPD telecommunicator found security footage of her exiting the vehicle and worked backward to connect it to an entry on an automated license-plate reader nearby.
The plate number was connected to Hudaynazarov.
An officer found the vehicle and Hudaynazarov at 8:11 a.m. Friday near Kirby Avenue and Neil Street.
Hudaynazarov told police he did provide a ride but denied any sexual activity occurred.
He also said he came to campus from Charleston to drive around.
Hudaynazarov was arraigned Monday on charges of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated criminal sexual assault and unlawful restraint. He is being held at the Champaign County Jail.
