Florida man accused of choking Uber driver, stealing vehicle

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida man is accused of choking an Uber driver and then attempting to steal his vehicle, according to an arrest affidavit.

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According to Brevard County online court records, Derek Clifton Strang, 33, of Cocoa, was charged with one count of carjacking with a firearm or other deadly weapon.

The driver told police that a man choked him and kicked him out of his red Jeep Cherokee while giving him a ride, WFTV reported.

According to a Brevard County Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit, the Uber driver had picked up Strang and was heading east across the Merritt Island Causeway. At one point during the ride, Strang, who was sitting in the back passenger’s seat of the vehicle, slid into the seat behind the driver and allegedly began choking him.

The Uber driver managed to pull into the parking lot of a Chili’s Restaurant, where he was able to exit the vehicle, the affidavit stated.

According to the affidavit, Strang began driving the Jeep, but the driver told police that his vehicle was equipped with a feature that locks its brakes when a door is left open.

Strang was only able to advance the vehicle a few feet before it stopped, WFTV reported.

Police arriving at the scene arrested Strang. He was booked into the Brevard County Jail, online records show.

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