911 dispatcher helps quick-thinking Uber driver with threatening passenger

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - The quick thinking of a Uber driver may have saved her life.

Cobb County resident Elia Santos has seen a lot of passengers over her 30 years of driving, but an Uber passenger she picked up recently was different.

Santos said passenger Omari Coulthrust started threatening her and her friend from the backseat.

"He starts saying numbers, 'Four, three, I have to kill two people. I have a sword. I'm gonna take your heads off,'" Santos said. "I am like, 'Sure you are, sit back, and put your seat belt on.'"

The quick thinking grandmother from New York used one of her cellphones to dial Cobb County 911 for help, all he continued the threats. 

To stop Coulthrust from realizing what she was doing and stay safe, Santos made sure to talk cryptically – letting the 911 operator know she was in danger but making it sound like she was talking to a friend.

"I can go shopping tomorrow with you. I have someone in my Uber car right now. I can't really be on the phone," Santos says in the recording.

"OK, what street are you on ma'am," the operator asks.

The operator was able to signal police and officers started following the Black Tundra with passenger. That's when Coulthrust realized police were trailing them.

"Finally he caught on to it and he's like trying to get my phone, telling me to hang up. He's saying he's going to kill all the police officers if they pull them over," Santos said. "I'm like, 'you're not going to kill anybody.'"

Santos shoved her Toyota Tundra in park and she and her friend jumped out as police moved in and arrested Coulthrust.

She says what makes her the most angry about it is Uber has decided not to ban Coulthrust from the app, meaning he can call another ride.