A former Uber driver has been charged with assault after a passenger says he refused to give her phone back unless she paid him. He then nearly ran her over with his car outside a West Hollywood comedy club.Phillip Reid Bagel, 46, has been charged with one felony count each of assault with a deadly weapon—in this case, a car—and attempted extortion, and one misdemeanor count of petty theft, according to a release from the L.A. County District Attorney's Office. He will be arraigned today. If convicted, Bagwell faces up to four years and eight months in prison.
A woman told police she took an Uber to a comedy club in West Hollywood on July 9. Bagwell was the driver. She said she forgot her phone in Bagwell's car, but was able to get a hold of him and ask for her phone back. She said Bagwell returned, but then told her she couldn't have her phone back unless she paid him for it. He then drove off, allegedly knocking the victim to the ground and nearly running her over.
Bagwell no longer works for Uber. Prior to this current case, Bagwell had been convicted of three felonies: grand theft in 1990, forgery in 1991 and grand theft again in 1998.
