TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Things turned weird for three Uber customers when their driver made an unexpected stop at a Publix supermarket on Platt Street in Tampa.
A search warrant shows how Michael Paz Debesa, 44, had something to show the passengers shortly after he picked up the teens at Amalie Arena.
That’s when Tampa police detectives say Debesa sent a text message or opened an application on his cell phone.
The warrant says: “The cell phone was secured in a dash mounted cell phone holder. The suspect accessed a video and then intentionally pressed play. A video began to play of [redacted] wearing a pink and purple top.”
The video went on for roughly 20 seconds, the warrant says, and the customers said how Debesa acted as though he wanted them to react. Instead, they looked at each other in disbelief.
The passengers’ names weren’t listed on the warrant because they are juveniles.
“But to do something like that, no way,” said the suspect’s friend, Juliaknova Bendezu.
She was dumbfounded by the arrest and claims Debesa was, too.
“He still doesn’t understand what’s going on because he says, ‘how am I going to show something to kids if I have two kids,'” she explained.
Debesa’s phone was seized by police, so he’s no longer working for Uber or Lyft.
Tampa Uber drivers don’t want his arrest to reflect badly on them.
“I don’t feel anybody should be watching any videos when they’re driving, even if they’re stopped,” said driver Hope MacDermott.
News Channel 8 got the following statement from an Uber spokeswoman:
“The actions outlined by police are deplorable and this individual was removed from the app when this was reported to us last October.”
Uber worked with police on the investigation.
A spokeswoman said teenagers aren’t allowed to use the app. In this situation, it appears an adult organized the ride for the teens.
Debesa wasn’t available for comment.