HAZELWOOD, MO – A Missouri man is in custody following allegations that he kidnapped a Lyft driver at gunpoint, forcing her to drive him around and later assaulting her at a Denny’s restaurant.

The incident began on October 24 when Anthony Milton allegedly requested a Lyft ride in Hazelwood. Upon reaching his intended destination, Milton reportedly refused to exit the vehicle, instead brandishing a firearm and ordering the driver to continue to another location. The affidavit details that this unsettling pattern repeated at the new address, with Milton once again refusing to leave the car.

The escalating situation took a dark turn when Milton allegedly demanded the driver accompany him into a Denny’s restaurant to prevent her from calling the authorities. As they entered, the victim discreetly triggered a panic alarm on her phone, attempting to distance herself by heading to the restroom. However, Milton reportedly followed her in and struck her with the gun. Surveillance cameras captured parts of the ensuing chaos before he fled the scene.

Authorities in Collinsville, Illinois, later apprehended Milton, who now faces a series of serious charges in both states. His charges in Missouri include kidnapping, armed criminal action, and unlawful possession of a firearm, while in Illinois, he is charged with armed violence and battery, among other offenses.

In a police interview, Milton conceded being the man captured on video, though he contested the victim’s account, claiming she compelled him into the restroom. This assertion contradicts witness statements and the surveillance footage.

Milton’s legal troubles are compounded by his status as a convicted felon, which bars him from firearm possession. He has a record of evading law enforcement, with a prior arrest in September after a traffic stop in St. Louis County led to a pursuit.

Presently, Milton is held without bond as he awaits further legal proceedings. The ongoing investigation seeks to piece together the full extent of the incident, with the evidence against him solidified by the video and witness accounts.

As legal actions proceed, these events cast a spotlight on the dangers faced by rideshare drivers and the imperative for preventative safety measures within the industry.