Cabbie cleared in ‘rape’ that never was

When a 15-year-old girl ran up to a cop May 8, screaming and claiming that a taxi driver had tried to rape her, the officer assumed the worst and police arrested the cabbie later that day.

But it turns out the girl made up the story to get out of paying the cab fare, police said, and all charges were dropped Tuesday against driver Oluyemi Otunba-Payne, a Nigerian immigrant and father of two who lives in Hamden.

"I was crying in the courthouse," said Otunba-Payne, 48, who has lived in the United States for 25 years. "I’m just happy this is all over."

Phil Helsel

While many reported rapes are legitimate, this is not the first time an alleged victim has been caught fabricating a sexual assault in Connecticut.

Less than 1 out of 5 rape reports are valid, according to the FBI Uniform Crime Report.