Uber driver charged with kidnapping Bend woman during ride

By KPTV Staff

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    BEND, Oregon (KPTV) — A 48-year-old Uber driver was arrested Tuesday in Deschutes County and charged with kidnapping, according to the Bend Police Department on Thursday.

At about 9 p.m., a woman reported to police that she had ordered a ride to her Bend home using the Uber app – about a 5-minute drive away from her location.

The Uber driver, identified in the app as “Rocky,” picked her up at about 6:26 p.m., police said.

At 6:29 p.m. the driver, later identified as Rocky Eugene Earl Heath of La Pine, canceled the ride and allegedly drove her around for 25 to 30 minutes despite her requests to take her to her house. Eventually, he dropped the woman off at her home.

After the woman contacted police, officers searched the area for Heath’s car, a 2023 Polestar 2.

Shortly before 11:30 p.m., police stopped the Polestar Heath was driving near Northwest Minnesota and Northwest Lava.

Heath was arrested and lodged at the Deschutes County Jail. He is facing charges of second-degree kidnapping and second-degree disorderly conduct.

Officers towed the car and reported the allegations to Uber.

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