Uber driver pulled over for speeding, arrested on outstanding warrants

MARIETTA, Ga. - A Marietta man calls for an Uber ride, but ended up getting is an experience he will never forget. Police pulled the car over and found the driver had outstanding warrants.

"Just to know to be more cautious before they just order an Uber by themselves late at night or just anytime. You really don’t know who’s driving you around," said Zachary McCormack.

McCormack said it was supposed to be a typical Uber ride home, but the events that unfolded early Sunday morning was anything but typical. The 24-year-old Marietta man was at the Battery Atlanta at SunTrust Park.

He called for an Uber ride, but the driver showed up in a different car than what was listed and less than 5 minutes into the ride, the unthinkable happened.

"The Uber got pulled over for speeding and once we got pulled over, the police officer took his license and brought back to patrol car and then another police officer showed up and this police officer, they both came up to the side of the car, and got the driver out of the car and arrested him," said McCormack.

According to the incident report obtained by FOX 5 News, after running the license of the driver, Michael Terrance Thomas, Cobb County police discovered he had two active warrants from Alpharetta from 2014 on theft charges.

“I was just happy to be safe at that point. I mean, I was surprised it didn't come to anything more, like a high-speed chase or something. It was crazy being in a car with a guy like that,” said McCormack.

McCormack said what was supposed to be a 15-minute ride turned out to be an hour and a half ordeal. He later reached out to Uber support through the app. They refunded his money and wrote him the following:

"We'll be launching an internal investigation and will be re-evaluating this driver’s access to Uber. Any incident that threatens the safety or wellbeing of either party is taken very seriously."

But McCormack said that just does not seem to be enough. He questions just how many other drivers are behind the wheel that should not be.

“It definitely changed my perspective on ordering Uber. I don't think I will be ordering any Ubers anytime soon. I’m just going to have to change my way of getting to and from places that for sure,” said McCormack.

Thomas was giving a warning of speed by police, but has been charged with possession of marijuana.

The car Thomas we driving turned out to a be rental.

FOX 5 News reached out to Uber regarding this story, but did not receive a response by early Thursday evening.