Police lieutenant accused of groping rideshare driver is suspended, GA cops say
An Atlanta police lieutenant is suspended amid accusations of sexual battery against a rideshare driver, according to the city’s police department.
Lt. Kyle Kleinhenz was arrested following the alleged incident on May 18, the Atlanta Police Department said in a May 22 news release.
Officers were called to a Race Trac station on a report of a dispute between a rideshare driver and passenger, police said.
Investigators said they learned the passenger, later identified as Kleinhenz, inappropriately touched the driver during the ride. He was off duty and out of uniform at the time, authorities said.
Police didn’t say which company the driver is employed with.
The driver told police she picked up Kleinhenz from Mr. C’s Bar and Grill and stopped for help following the incident, WSB-TV reported, citing authorities.
Responding officers told the station that Kleinhenz was “extremely intoxicated and unable to give a statement.”
He was arrested and relieved of duty May 19, Atlanta police said. The department’s Office of Professional Standards has launched an investigation.
“The Atlanta Police Department takes all allegations of officer misconduct with the utmost seriousness,” Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said in a statement.
“We are committed to maintaining the trust of our community by holding our officers to the highest standards of integrity and professionalism.”
Kleinhenz was taken to the Fulton County Jail and released after posting a $1,000 bond, online records show.
This story was originally published May 22, 2025 at 12:52 PM with the headline "Police lieutenant accused of groping rideshare driver is suspended, GA cops say."