HAVERHILL — An Uber driver was arraigned in Haverhill District Court Monday after he was charged with assault with intent to rape and kidnapping for allegedly restraining and then sexually assaulting a passenger on her way to Haverhill.
Roberto C. Serpas Canales, 47, of Boston, was arraigned in Haverhill District Court on Monday following his arrest Saturday afternoon for the assault of his passenger which took place on Monday, July 29, 2024.
The victim, a 40-year-old woman, reported the incident to Haverhill police on Friday, August 2.
According to police reports obtained by WHAV, the woman ordered a rideshare from Uber on Monday, July 29, and was picked up at 12:50 p.m. in Beverly by a man identified as “Roberto” on the Uber app. The vehicle Canales was driving was later identified as a 2017 black Toyota Camry.
As they were driving along Route 97 in Groveland, the woman said that Canales appeared to be fidgeting, “almost as if he was nervous.” She reported that Canales pulled over at a convenience store near the intersection of Salem Street, claiming he needed to use the restroom. Canales told her, “Don’t leave,” and then walked behind a dumpster, where she believed he was using his phone.
After Canales returned to the car and resumed the ride to Haverhill, he repeatedly suggested detours down side streets, but the woman insisted on being taken to her destination on Water Street as originally requested.
She told police that as they continued driving, Canales suggested making other stops. When she asked to be dropped off at a downtown grocery store, he refused and instead, at around 1:30 p.m., turned into an empty lot next to an apartment building on Water Street. Police noted that visibility in the lot was obscured by trees and brush, even during the daytime.
Once parked, Canales suggested she drink from his open water bottle. After this “suggestion,” she attempted to exit the vehicle, but Canales opened the back driver’s side door, pulled her back in, and grabbed her right arm to prevent her from opening the other door.
According to police reports, he “pulled her towards him before she could exit the car. He held her arms tightly—resulting in several bruises on her forearms—and began kissing her on the face, neck, and breasts” for about 10 minutes. Despite repeatedly telling him to stop, she was unable to escape his grip as he allegedly grabbed and bruised her breast and moved his hand inside her pants. When his grip loosened, she managed to escape by striking him with her left elbow. As she ran away, Canales reportedly reminded her that he knew her address from the original rideshare request.
The woman reported the incident to a friend she had planned to visit and contacted her boyfriend via calls and texts to report the assault. Police confirmed the text messages, gathered information from the rideshare app, and used city surveillance cameras to locate the Toyota registered to Serpas Canales. One image captured by the cameras bore a strong resemblance to his driver’s license photograph, and police documented the woman’s injuries.
Canales was held in jail following his arraignment and is scheduled to return to Haverhill District Court via video conference on Thursday, Aug. 8, for a detention hearing.
