A Lebanon, Tennessee man was arrested for the alleged kidnap and rape of a woman who mistook his vehicle for her ride-share in downtown Nashville.
On Monday, Randall C. Johnson, 49, was charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated rape, and aggravated assault, a press release for the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department stated.
The Alleged Victim Entered the Vehicle with a Male Acquaintance on May 24, Both Believed Johnson to Be Their Ride-Share Driver.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of May 24, when the alleged victim and a male acquaintance entered a black Chevrolet pick-up truck in downtown Nashville, according to police.
“The driver, a white man who appeared to be in his 50s with salt and pepper hair wearing a camouflage shirt, took them to a short-term rental on 9th Avenue North,” police shared in an alert the following day. Instead of dropping both passengers off at the rental, the driver sped off after the male passenger exited the vehicle with the female passenger still inside.
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The victim told investigators that she was taken to a remote field thirty minutes away and sexually assaulted before the driver dropped her off back in Nashville, the police alert stated.
The previous alert had stated that the pick-up truck had a “Tennessee American Eagle Foundation vanity license plate” and “multiple Harley Davidson insignias.”
In an update on Monday, police stated, “A citizen’s tip led to the identification of Randall C. Johnson.”
“The investigation, led by Detective Amery Milligan, resulted in Johnson’s arrest today on a grand jury indictment charging him with aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated assault,” the release concluded.
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The release contained no information about Johnson’s potential legal counsel or if he had entered a plea. As police continue their investigation, we expect more details to come out about the alleged kidnap and assault.
This potentially gruesome crime might have been prevented had either of the passengers checked the license plate to make sure that the number matches what is shown in the ride-share app. It’s a great practice to get into the habit to ensure your safety in any ride-share situation.