Cops: Passenger Chomped On Her Uber Driver

APRIL 20--A passenger sunk her teeth into the neck of an Uber driver and choked the victim from behind in a bloody, unprovoked assault, according to court records.

Police say that Michele Stilwell, 55, was seated behind the victim as he drove his Toyota near Stilwell’s St. Petersburg residence late Saturday afternoon.

While the car was in motion, Stilwell “reached forward and proceeded to choke the victim from behind,” according to a criminal complaint. Stilwell (seen at right) initially throttled the driver with her two hands and then wrapped an arm around his throat, cops charge.

As the 22-year-old driver sought to pull over the vehicle, Stilwell “managed to crawl forward onto the center console...and bite the victim deeply on the neck drawing blood.” Stilwell then scratched the driver across the chest, “causing a large red in color mark with traces of blood visible.”

The attack did not stop there, investigators allege: “The defendant continued to bite, strangle, and claw at the victim who was unable to defend himself as he was being attacked from behind.”

The assault ended only after witnesses came to the aid of the driver--who was complaining that he could not breathe--and pulled him free from Stilwell’s grasp. Photos taken by witnesses show Stilwell choking the driver and splayed across the Toyota’s driver’s seat. Another image shows the bite mark on the victim’s neck.

Arrest affidavits note that there was an “indication of alcohol influence” with regard to the incident.

Stilwell, who is a licensed practical nurse, was charged with aggravated battery and tampering with a witness, both felonies. The latter count resulted from Stilwell allegedly knocking a phone from the driver’s hand as he sought to dial 911 during the attack.

Stilwell was released from the county jail Sunday after posting $15,000 bond. (2 pages)