Police arrest man who reportedly attacked an Uber driver with his two middle fingers

Police arrested a man Wednesday night who reportedly, after first trying to take someone else’s Uber, took flipping off to another level — a criminal level.

Lawrence police responded to the area of 14th and Ohio streets (home to a couple of popular student bars, just off the University of Kansas campus) about 11:30 p.m., regarding a reported battery.

According to Officer Derrick Smith:

A man got into an Uber vehicle that was waiting to pick up someone else, and refused to get out. The suspect started cursing at the Uber driver, flipped him off with both middle fingers, then proceeded to use both those middle fingers to poke the driver in the face.

The Uber driver said he was going to call police, and the suspect got out of the vehicle. When officers arrived and found the suspect nearby, he started running but was caught after a short foot pursuit. Officers arrested him at the scene, on charges of battery and interference with law enforcement.

The man arrested in connection with the incident was an 18-year-old with a KU campus address, according to police and jail records.

— I’m the Journal-World’s public safety reporter. Reach me by email at sshepherd@ljworld.com or by phone at 785-832-7187. I’m also on Twitter, @saramarieshep.