CHICAGO — A bizarre and dangerous encounter in Englewood has landed a woman in legal trouble after she allegedly threatened to shoot her Uber driver and later claimed she was Oprah Winfrey, according to Chicago police and court records.
Incident in Englewood Escalates Quickly
The incident occurred late on June 13 in the 600 block of West 63rd Street. According to the Chicago Police Department, a rideshare driver called police after his passenger threatened to shoot him — allegedly flashing a firearm magazine during the altercation.
The woman then exited the vehicle and began walking southbound on Wentworth Avenue.
Suspect Identified and Arrested Nearby
Officers soon located 35-year-old Gabraell Griffin, who matched the driver’s description: a Black woman with voluminous hair dressed entirely in black. When stopped, Griffin allegedly had a magazine filled with inert training ammunition in her possession.
While being detained, Griffin refused to identify herself and told police her name was “Oprah,” according to the incident report.
Violence During Arrest and Multiple Charges Filed
The situation reportedly became physical as Griffin kicked one officer in the knee and another in the stomach. She has since been charged with:
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Aggravated battery of a peace officer
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Battery
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Aggravated assault
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Obstructing identification
Judge Orders Electronic Monitoring
Griffin appeared in bond court where Judge James Murphy III ordered her to be placed on electronic monitoring and subjected to a court-imposed curfew.
No information has been released regarding a mental health evaluation, but her behavior during the arrest has raised concern.
Public Safety Concerns Rising
Incidents like this underscore the unpredictable risks faced by rideshare drivers across the city, especially in high-tension areas like Englewood. Local drivers have increasingly expressed concern about passenger screening and their lack of protection in situations that turn volatile.
Do you believe rideshare platforms should do more to protect drivers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
