California – Benjamin Golden, the man who was caught on video in a violent incident with a Uber Driver in California, was fired from Taco Bell where he was an executive leading mobile commerce and innovation initiatives, according to CNBC.
“Given the behavior of the individual, it is clear he can no longer work for us. We have also offered and encouraged him to seek professional help,” Taco Bell said in a statement to CNBC.
The news agency reported that they intended to reach Golden, 32, by phone or email, although they received no answers. Also, they informed that his LinkedIn and Twitter accounts may have been blocked.
Golden was a seven-year veteran of Yum Brands, the American food company that operates the licensed brands Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, and WingStreet worldwide, according to his biography on the website Brand-Innovators.
Say hi to the camera
Cameras placed in the car show Golden being intoxicated and unable to provide a clear address to the driver, who kept asking for it to Golden. Edward Caban, the Uber Driver who picked up Golden in a bar, eventually stops the vehicle and asks Golden to leave the car, because “you are too drunk to give me directions.”
After opening the door, Golden reaches the front seat and starts hitting Caban in the face, and pulling his hair. Caban reacts, and uses pepper spray on his face, as he yells Golden to call the police while pursuing him.
“I don’t feel like he would have stopped if I didn’t spray him. The way that he was coming at me, I was afraid he was going to start strangling me. I definitely don’t plan on driving for Uber anymore. I’m looking for a job right now,” Caban said to CBS News.
When passengers sign up for Uber, they agree to follow a code of conduct, in order to protect the drivers. A Uber spokeswoman named Kayla Whaling told the LA Times that Golden won’t be able to use the service again.
Benjamin Golden was arrested by Costa Mesa Police, and is currently being charged with assault and disorderly conduct. Police found him vomiting due to the pepper spray when they arrived at the scene. Golden was arrested around 8 pm and released from custody after signing a written promise to appear in court, according to the LA Times.
Uber officials said that they have been in contact with Edward Caban and that the company is glad that he is “doing ok”. Nevertheless, Whaling refused to comment if all Uber drivers have dash cameras on their cars, or if they encourage their workers to use pepper spray.
“I wanted to make sure he didn’t get away. I have lost so much money on people like him and I’m done dealing with it. They take the food right out of my mouth,” Caban said, according to the LA Times. Benjamin Golden was reached by several news agencies, but he hasn’t made any comments yet.
Source: CNBC