Uber Driver Stops Armed Robbery by Crashing into Ind. Police Cruiser

An Uber rideshare driver being held at gunpoint took unusual steps to thwart the attempted armed robbery by crashing into an Indianapolis police cruiser.

The incident happened Tuesday when an officer on patrol noticed an SUV driving erratically, according to an Indianapolis police news release. Stopping at an intersection, the officer continued to watch the vehicle swerve until it jumped a curb and slammed into the rear driver's side of the cruiser.

The officer saw that the driver looked scared while trying to get his attention and pointing to a passenger. That's when the passenger jumped from the SUV and began fleeing on foot.

Giving chase, the officer apprehended the 17-year-old passenger when he tried to scale a barbed wire fence.

Police interviewed the rideshare driver, who told officers that the passenger pulled a gun on him and told him he'd shoot him if he moved. The passenger then used the driver's phone to transfer money from different apps to himself.

The suspect told the driver to drive to an ATM. But before he could find an ATM, the driver saw the cruiser and crashed into it.

"While we don’t recommend bumping into one of our police cars to get an officer’s attention, we are thankful that our officer acted quickly to help this driver and that no one was seriously hurt," the department stated.

The suspect was arrested on preliminary charges of armed robbery and resisting law enforcement.