Seekonk police arrest town man for alleged attempted sexual assault, kidnapping of Uber driver

SEEKONK, Mass. (WLNE) — A Seekonk man has been arrested for the alleged attempted rape of an Uber driver Saturday morning, according to Seekonk police.

James D. Oakes, 25, is charged with strangulation or suffocation, kidnapping, assault with intent to rape and several other charges after his Sunday afternoon arrest.

Police said that the victim picked up Oakes from North Seekonk with a destination of South Seekonk early Saturday morning.

A lone male entered her vehicle from the pickup address, and gave her an alternate destination once the trip began.

She said that upon arriving, the male demanded that she back down a long, unlit driveway, which she initially refused.

The victim then agreed to back down the driveway and the suspect began to allegedly assault her.

At this time the victim managed to put the vehicle in drive and accelerate while the suspect continued the assault.

The vehicle came to a stop on a front lawn, and the suspect fled the vehicle after allegedly stealing the victim’s cell phone.

She sounded the car’s horn, alerting a resident who responded and called police to the area of County Street and Arrowhead Road.

After investigating the incident, Seekonk police detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Oakes on Sunday, and he was arrested without incident later that afternoon.