Police: Alleged Rape Victim Says She Was Also Assaulted By Lyft Driver

The woman police say was raped by a University of Maryland Medical Center security guard was earlier that same night sexually assaulted by a Lyft driver, according to charging documents.

Richard Stephen Barnes is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree assault and impersonating a police officer. He remains held without bail. A preliminary hearing is set for July 10.

Police said the victim spoke to police on June 2, the morning after the alleged rape. She told police that she hailed a Lyft to Charles Village Pub in the 3100 block of Saint Paul Street. The victim told police the driver, who has not yet been charged, began to touch the victim, at one point forcing his fingers into her vagina. He pulled into the 2700 block of North Lovegrove Street, where he grabbed her and forced her to get on top of him, the victim said.

When asked why the Lyft driver hasn't been charged, in separate statements, both police and prosecutors said the investigation remains open. A Lyft spokeswoman called the behavior by their driver "deeply disturbing."

"There is absolutely no place on the Lyft platform for violence or harassment of any kind," the spokeswoman said. "Immediately upon learning of the allegations, we deactivated this driver. We have been in touch with law enforcement to assist with their investigation."

While the woman was in the Lyft driver's car, a dark-colored vehicle then pulled up behind it. Barnes allegedly approached and ordered the victim out of that car and into his. He was wearing a blue uniform, but charging documents don't say whether police believe Barnes identified himself as a police officer.

Barnes then allegedly drove the victim to an unknown address. Inside, he allegedly forced her to engage in vaginal intercourse and fellatio. He changed his clothes and drove her back to the 3100 block of Saint Paul Street.

Police said the witness's account was supported by GPS information from the Lyft app, along with Johns Hopkins University surveillance video. The footage showed a dark-colored Honda Crosstour with a malfunctioning left rear brake light in the 2700 block of North Lovegrove Street. Police then referenced Motor Vehicle Administration records of Crosstour owners and their MVA photographs. Based on the description given by the victim, they zeroed in on Barnes.

Police learned Barnes goes by the name Rick, which is the name the victim said her rapist gave her. They found that he wears a blue uniform with a gun belt and works as an unarmed special police officer -- a contracted security guard at the University of Maryland Medical Center. His appearance resembled the composite sketch developed from the victim's description.

Once police developed Barnes as a person of interest, they conducted surveillance on the black Honda Crosstour registered to him. At one point, police saw him move the vehicle. They verified that the rear left brake light was out, consistent with the surveillance footage. The victim identified Barnes in a photo array.

This is not the first time Barnes has been charged with impersonating a police officer. In 1996, he was convicted of doing so in Baltimore County. He was fined $100 in that case and given a suspended six-month jail sentence.

Before arresting Barnes, police searched more than 100 of their own patrol cars, as the victim said she believed she had been raped by an officer.

On Thursday, Barnes requested a delay of his scheduled bail review until he gets a private attorney.

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Robert Lang and WBAL-TV 11's David Collins contributed to this report.