Florida woman, 55, chokes Uber driver from behind while he’s driving and then bites into his neck ‘like a pitbull’ while trying to escape in unprovoked attack
- Michele Stilwell, 55, allegedly strangled and bit an Uber driver during an unprovoked attack in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday
- The driver, Michael Hassey Jr., 22, said she had fallen asleep in his car and then suddenly ‘sprouted up’ and attacked
- He pulled over to escape, but Stilwell allegedly bit into his neck and continued the assault until passersby came his rescue
Michele Stilwell was arrested and charged with aggravated battery
A Florida woman allegedly choked an Uber driver while he was driving before sinking her teeth into his neck while he tried to escape the unprovoked horror attack.
Michael Hassey Jr., 22, was driving his Uber in St. Petersburg, near Tampa, on Saturday when he picked up passenger Michele Stilwell, 55.
But while he was driving, Stilwell allegedly reached forward from the back passenger-side seat and wrapped both of her hands around his neck.
Hassey pulled over and tried to get away, but Stilwell crawled forward onto the center console, and bit ‘deeply’ into his neck and scratched his chest, police said.
She ‘continued to bite, strangle and claw at the victim, who was unable to defend himself,’ police said in their arrest report.
Michele Stilwell, 55, allegedly strangled Uber driver Michael Hassey, Jr., 22, during an unprovoked attacked in St. Petersburg, Florida on Saturday. Pictures of the attack were taken by passersby
Stilwell allegedly reached forward from the back passenger-side seat and wrapped both of her hands around Hassey’s neck. Hassey managed to record footage of the encounter
Stilwell crawled forward onto the center console, and bit ‘deeply’ into Hassey’s neck and scratched his chest, police said
Hassey told the Florida TV station WFLA 8 that Stilwell was asleep for most of the ride then suddenly ‘sprouted up’ and attacked while screaming, ‘My daughter.’
‘She started screaming curse words at me and slapped me in the face,’ Hassey told WFLA 8. ‘She sinks into my neck like a pitbull, shaking her head and stuff.’
He told the Florida TV station that he didn’t fight back because he didn’t want to hit a woman, but the situation worsened.
She knocked the phone from his hand when he tried to call the police, and he was screaming that he couldn’t breathe.
When Hassey tried to escape, Stilwell allegedly crawled into the front of the car and continued the attack.
His panicked cries for help were heard by passersby, who rushed to his aid and pulled the woman off him, according to the police report.
The DailyMail.com has contacted Uber for comment.
Stilwell was arrested and charged with aggravated battery and tampering with a witness, both felonies, and released on $15,000 bond.
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