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ATLANTA - Investigators with the Atlanta Police Department have cleared an Uber driver in a case where a man reported he was robbed, beaten, and stuffed down a drainage pipe over the weekend in Buckhead.
FOX 5 interviewed Uber driver Marcus Lewis after learning of his good news from Atlanta Police and reading a released statement.
"I am very floored. That makes me feel great. They got to the bottom of the truth," ,"Lewis said.
In a release from the Atlanta Police Department on Tuesday, investigators stated they no longer believe the Cleary’s story that went viral on Facebook. They released the following key details:
- The Uber driver listed on social media and other forms of media did not rob Mr. Cleary. In fact, the trip was canceled prior to this driver arriving at Mr. Cleary’s location. Our investigation has determined the driver was on another trip at the time of this possible robbery.
- Mr. Cleary was captured on video walking into the parking lot. He was not being followed and showed no obvious signs of distress. He was observed walking down to the adjacent creek in the area of the manhole. The manhole can be accessed from the creek.
- The only vehicle observed in the parking lot of the church was believed to be that of the off duty officer working at the location. The off duty officer aided Mr. Cleary. Mr. Cleary did not report to the officer that he was robbed.
- It is noted in the Atlanta Fire Report that upon his rescue, Mr. Cleary stated he had been drinking.
Based on these factors, we have not arrived at the conclusion that a robbery took place. We are certain that the Uber driver did not participate in any robbery.
Police met with the victim, Bo Cleary, at Atlanta Medical Center on Sunday where he was being treated for a swollen eye, bruises all over his body and cuts to his face. Cleary told detectives that an Uber driver picked him up along Irby Avenue after he left Churchill’s Pub around 2:45 a.m. Sunday. Cleary told police the driver changed his course of direction and ended up bringing him to the 3400 block of Peachtree Road behind Peachtree Presbyterian Church.
A police report stated Cleary told officers he was removed from the vehicle, beaten up and thrown down a nearly 9-feet-deep drainage pipe. The victim wasn’t sure how he got down the pipe because he was beaten unconscious, according to police. Cleary said he regained consciousness roughly two hours later and started screaming for help. An off-duty officer near the church working a security job heard him screaming and came to the rescue. Cleary said the officer called 911. Investigators said Cleary never mentioned a robbery to that officer.
Firefighters were called to the scene and removed the victim from the drainage system, according to police. Cleary told firefighters that he had been drinking.
Uber told FOX 5 News that the ride was canceled by the driver.
Lewis said he never picked up this customer and he immediately started taking other fares.
"I arrived at the Grammercy. They weren't there. I called twice. No response. I canceled the trip,"Lewis said.
Uber said their trip data backs what up the driver said. Police reviewed that data and have since ruled out any involvement by the Uber driver.
In addition, video obtained by police shows Cleary in the parking lot. Police said he was not being followed and “showed no obvious signs of distress.” He can be seen walking towards the creek near the area of the drainage pipe in which he was found. Police said they will not be releasing that video.
Cleary reported to police that his iPhone 6, Wells Fargo bank card, and $250 cash were stolen from him during the attack.
"People can't just go around pointing fingers and blaming them and making accusations. Especially accusations like this," Lewis said.
Lewis said he plans to pursue legal action with help from an attorney that specializes in defamation cases.
"My character has been defamed by this young lady," Lewis said.
Editor's note: The release in this story was edited to correct Bo Cleary's name and a grammatical error.