Chicago, Illinois — A Chicago Uber driver says a routine ride turned into a terrifying ordeal after a passenger allegedly threatened him, refused to leave his vehicle, and later assaulted him—all while, he claims, police officers twice ignored his urgent pleas for help.
The incident, which occurred in the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2025, is now the subject of an internal investigation by the Chicago Police Department’s Bureau of Internal Affairs, while the driver says he is still searching for answers months later.
Driver Says Passenger Became Aggressive Moments After Entering Car
According to Uber driver Ty Thomas, the trouble began after he picked up a passenger in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood. Thomas said the passenger was upset because the ride took longer than expected to arrive and immediately became hostile.
The driver alleged the man refused repeated requests to exit the vehicle and made threatening remarks suggesting he was armed.
“He refused to get out of the car, said he wasn’t gonna get out, and made all kinds of threats, insinuating he had a gun,” Thomas said.
Fearing for his safety, Thomas said he searched for nearby police officers hoping they would intervene.
Driver Claims Officers Drove Away Twice
Dash camera footage revealed that Thomas pulling alongside a marked Chicago police vehicle. Thomas said he immediately alerted the officers to the situation.
“I said, ‘He has a gun. He’s refusing to get out of the car. I’m an Uber driver.’ And then they drive away.”
According to Thomas, he followed the police vehicle as the passenger continued becoming more agitated inside the car.
He said he managed to flag the officers down a second time but claimed they again declined to help. Thomas recalled one officer telling him they did not have time to deal with the situation before driving away.
Police have not publicly responded to those specific allegations because of the ongoing internal investigation.
Assault Occurred After Driver Stopped Following Police
Thomas said he eventually stopped trying to catch up with the police vehicle. It was then, according to his account, that the passenger allegedly became physically violent.
The driver said the man grabbed him and struck him in the back of the head with a heavy object while he was still behind the wheel.
“I’m trying to stop him from hitting me,” Thomas said. “And, at the same time, I almost crashed.”
Despite the attack, Thomas managed to drive toward the Fourth District Police Station.
He said the passenger fled the vehicle after it stopped outside the station. Photographs later showed injuries to Thomas’ head and face, including a bleeding wound on the back of his head.
Questions Raised About Police Response
A review of police dispatch records showed the officers were not immediately responding to another emergency call during the time Thomas sought assistance.
Retired Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy questioned the response described by the driver.
“If nothing else, for officer safety, they should have gotten out of the car.”
Roy added that if officers were unable to stop because of another emergency, they should have requested another unit to respond.
Investigation Remains Ongoing
Thomas said he provided investigators with the passenger’s full identity but believes important information was omitted from the initial police report, including details about his interactions with officers.
More than six months after the incident, no criminal charges have been announced against the passenger.
The Chicago Police Department has declined to comment publicly, citing the ongoing Bureau of Internal Affairs investigation. Uber also said police have not contacted the company regarding the case but stated it remains prepared to cooperate if requested.
Thomas said he hopes no other driver experiences what he went through.
“At the very least, if someone comes up to you and says, ‘Help me. This person has a gun. Do something.’ Don’t just walk away,” he said. “I don’t think anyone expect the police to drive away.”
What are your thoughts on this case? Should there be clearer policies for how officers respond when someone urgently requests help during an active threat? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
