Charges dropped against man accused of trying to kidnap delivery driver in South Hill
Attempted rape and kidnapping charges have been dismissed against a South Hill man who was accused of trying to pull an 38-year-old Uber delivery driver into his home on July 8.
The Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney asked the court to dismiss the charges against 18-year-old Elijah Oliver-Jelani Eubanks without prejudice on Aug. 29. Eubanks had been charged with first-degree attempted rape and first-degree attempted kidnapping. Prosecutors said the felony charges should be dismissed because security video did not support the alleged victim’s allegations, according to court records.
Court records show that the alleged incident occurred on July 8 when the driver took groceries to Eubanks’ home off of 136th Street East.
The woman claimed she delivered the food at about 2 p.m. and left it at the door. She said that when she went back to her car, Eubanks said, “Don’t forget your tip.” She said she bent down to pick it up and claimed Eubanks grabbed her by the back of the shirt and started to pull her into the house. She screamed and broke free before running back to her car.
The woman claimed Eubanks was standing on the porch, masturbating and grinning as she drove away.
Eubanks, who was arrested when he was 17, was charged as an adult. He pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on July 10. He does not have prior criminal history, according to a previous News Tribune article.
Adam Faber, spokesman for the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, said that charges were dismissed after video from a doorbell camera did not corroborate the allegation that Eubanks grabbed the woman and he tried to pull her inside. It also did not corroborate that he put the cash tip on the ground.
Pierce County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Darren Moss said the video showed that Eubanks approached the woman with the $20 tip in his hand and that he was not wearing pants or underwear. He was seen masturbating in front of the woman.
Moss said that detectives were not able to interview Eubanks at the time because state law prohibits juvenile suspects from being interviewed by law enforcement.
Eubanks’ $150,000 bail was cleared following the case’s dismissal.
