Feb. 15--A 19-year-old Evanston woman is accused of striking an Uber driver in the head with a baseball bat following a traffic altercation.
Myesha Griffin, of the 2300 block of Foster Street, faces two counts of aggravated battery and criminal damage to property following the incident last Thursday in the 1700 block of North Benson Avenue in downtown Evanston, according to court documents.
Cook County Judge Peggy Chiampas ordered Griffin held on $100,000 bail during a hearing Saturday at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
Griffin was a front-seat passenger in a car driven by her mother that was behind an Uber car stopped near the mouth of an alley, authorities said.
Griffin's mother honked her car at the 27-year-old Uber driver, who was waiting for his passenger, according to Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Shawn Abraham.
The Uber driver initially signaled to Griffin's mother to wait a moment before he finally moved forward to allow the car to exit the alley. After maneuvering around the Uber car, Griffin got out of her car and smashed the Uber vehicle's side mirror, Abraham told the court.
When the Uber driver got out to confront her, Griffin struck him in the head with a bat, described in court papers as "short."
At least twice during the altercation, when the Uber driver tried to open a door of the car belonging to the woman, Griffin's mother drove away, dragging the man down the street, Abraham said.
In addition to Griffin and her mother, the car contained two of Griffin's younger brothers and another female relative.
The Uber driver suffered minor injuries but was taken to a hospital where he received three staples to close the wounds on the back of his head, authorities said.
An Uber spokesman said: "We're saddened to learn one of our partners was the victim of senseless violence this weekend. Our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery are with him and his family."
wlee@tribpub.com
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