Man accused of getting naked in Uber car turns himself in to Columbia police

A man accused of undressing himself an exposing his genitals to a female Uber driver in Columbia has turned himself in to police.

Darius Dominique Hightower, 21, was charged Friday with indecent exposure.

Hightower is charged in connection with at least one of two undressing and exposure incidents on Grand Street on Jan. 18.

The first incident was reported around 9 a.m. last Thursday, according to a Columbia Police Department incident report. The victim, who said she is a driver for Uber, told officers an unknown man got into the back seat of her car and removed his shoes, pants and boxers.

The man made “inappropriate comments” to the female driver before getting out, police said. It was not clear in the report if the man had summoned the Uber using the ride service’s app.

The second incident was reported around 10:45 a.m., according to the incident report.

The female victim told officers an unknown man got into the back of her vehicle and removed his clothes, exposing his genitals, the report states. He grabbed his genitals and made inappropriate comments to the driver, then exited the vehicle and fled.

“The victims told him to get out of the car and he complied,” Columbia police spokeswoman Jennifer Timmons said. Both women reported picking the man up on Grand Street.

It was not immediately clear which incident Hightower is charged in connection with. Police say they are continuing to investigate the second incident.

This story was originally published January 27, 2018 at 8:01 AM with the headline "Man accused of getting naked in Uber car turns himself in to Columbia police."