Prominent Haitian journalist Wadson Désir is facing legal troubles in the United States.
A contractor for the rideshare platform Lyft, Désir was arrested on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, after allegedly holding a female passenger against her will in his vehicle and subsequently harassing her.
He appeared before a judge in Miami-Dade County on May 22.
According to an arrest report, Wadson Désir, 46, has been charged with false imprisonment and harassment.
The incident reportedly occurred earlier this month when the alleged victim, a Starbucks employee in Homestead, Florida, ordered a ride home using the Lyft app. Investigators stated that the passenger quickly noticed that Désir was not following the intended route.
According to the report, the passenger received multiple alerts from Lyft, including one advising her to contact the police if she felt unsafe. She confronted the driver about his deviation, to which he allegedly responded by laughing and claiming he had made a “wrong turn,” NBC6 reported in a May 23, 2025 article.
Fearing for her safety, the woman called her boyfriend so he could track her location in real time. Upon arrival in her residential neighborhood, the situation reportedly escalated. The report states: “Désir demanded that she hand over her phone. When she attempted to exit the car, the doors were locked. She complied and gave him her phone.” The driver is said to have entered his personal number into her device, called it with his own phone to obtain her contact information, and only then unlocked the doors, allowing her to escape, according to NBC6 citing the Miami-Dade Police Department.
The matter did not end there. A few days later, Désir allegedly returned to the victim’s workplace. He reportedly stood at the entrance of the Starbucks and waved his phone in her direction—an act that was interpreted as a form of harassment. NBC6 explained that Starbucks and Lyft are partners in a program offering employees free rides to and from work.
NBC6, which first reported the incident, stated that it reached out to Lyft for an official comment, but the company has yet to respond publicly.
Harassment allegations involving rideshare platforms are increasingly common. Uber and Lyft have faced ongoing criticism for allegedly failing to implement sufficient safety measures to protect users.
Over a two-year period, Uber reported more than 6,000 cases of sexual assault involving passengers and drivers—including 464 cases of rape—while Lyft documented over 4,000 cases, according to CNN.
Both companies reportedly have settlement policies that can result in payouts exceeding $1 million per harassment claim.
For now, Désir’s accounts have been deactivated by all transportation service platforms in accordance with company policy. Even if acquitted, it may be extremely difficult for him to resume work with Lyft or Uber. He will also be registered as a sex offender in motor vehicle databases across all U.S. states—records that are notoriously difficult to remove, even if the allegations are proven to be unfounded.
If convicted, Désir faces up to five years in prison and a fine of more than $5,000 under Florida law. He could also be barred from entering the area where the alleged victim resides. Additionally, he may face deportation under the Trump administration, which has implemented an aggressive deportation policy. ICE agents are known to maintain a strong presence in court facilities to detain individuals with pending legal issues.
It is important to emphasize that Wadson Désir remains presumed innocent until proven guilty of the charges brought against him.
