Man accused of impersonating rideshare driver, raping woman in White Center

WHITE CENTER, Wash. -- Detectives are looking for a man who reportedly impersonated a rideshare driver then raped a woman he picked up from a bar in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.

According to the King County Sheriff's Office, the rape happened on Dec. 16, 2018. A woman told deputies she was at a bar in the 5100 block of Ballard Avenue NW in Seattle, then went outside about 12:15 a.m. to catch a rideshare that her friend had ordered for her.

A man in a black car, possibly a Dodge Charger, reportedly led her to believe that he was her rideshare driver.

While driving her home, the man allegedly pulled the vehicle over and raped her near the 11400 block of 5th Avenue South in White Center.

Surveillance video shows the man walking the victim to her door in White Center after the rape occurred, deputies said.

The victim told detectives that the man spoke with an accent. He is not employed by the rideshare company that the victim's friend used.

Sgt. Ryan Abbott, spokesperson for the sheriff's office, said the rape was reported shortly after it happened, but detectives are releasing footage now because they have exhausted their leads and need the public's help.

Anyone with information on the identity of the man in the video above is asked to call the King County Sheriff’s Office at 206-296-3311.