Seekonk Man Held After Uber Driver Attack

James Oakes, a 25-year-old from Seekonk, Massachusetts, was arrested and charged with multiple felonies after allegedly assaulting a female Uber driver early Saturday morning. Police say Oakes requested a different drop-off and demanded the driver back down a dark, unlit driveway, where he then allegedly assaulted and attempted to strangle her with intent to rape. The victim escaped by driving away, but the assault continued until the vehicle stopped on a front lawn, where Oakes allegedly stole her phone and fled. The driver alerted nearby residents by honking, leading them to call police. Oakes was apprehended on Sunday and faces charges including strangulation or suffocation, kidnapping, assault with intent to rape, assault and battery, unarmed robbery, intimidation of a witness, and interfering with a ride share driver. He is being held pending a dangerousness hearing.