Police say man acting like a ride-hail driver accused of kidnapping and sexual assault

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Police say a man acting as a ride-hail driver is accused of two kidnappings and attempted sexual assault on women around Austin. 

According to a pair of affidavits the first incident happened on Saturday, June 3. 

Police identified the suspect as 45-year-old Daniel H. Kifle.

Police said the two women, one of whom was "very intoxicated," were approached by Kifle while outside on 6th Street. The victim's friend believed him to be their ride-share driver, and offered them a ride in his black SUV. 

According to Austin Police Kifle is a driver for ride-sharing companies Lyft.  However, at the time of the alleged kidnappings he was not operating as a ride-share driver for either company.  

Lyft released this statement Tuesday afternoon: 

The victims friend told police she and the victim got into the black SUV parked nearby and instructed Kifle to take them to the victim’s residence. 

Once at their destination in the 3100 block of S. Lamar, the friend told police she had got out of the car to help the victim out of the vehicle, when Kifle sped off with the victim still inside.

In a separate incident which happened on June 9th police Kifle picked up two women on 6th Street. 

According to the affidavit similar to the first alleged assault Kifle drove the women to their destination this time in the 4300 block of N. Lamar.

The victim’s friend told police she excited the vehicle and was about to open the door for her friend when Kifle sped off knocking her to the ground. 

The victim told investigators she had blacked out in the SUV and when she woke up she was in an unknown parking lot where Kifle was attempting to sexually assault her. 

According to the victim she was able to slap Kifle’s hands away and ordered him to take her home at which point he began to drive. 

The victim told investigators she was able to escape and call 911. 

According to the Austin Police Department, Lyft's GPS coordinates put Kifle in the areas where the women were picked up and the friend was dropped off.

Lakeway Police are also investigating a similar incident which helped investigators identify Kifle as the suspect.