Caption

Close

Seattle Police Officer Eric Michl sent a selfie to a ride share driver early Sunday after a passenger's purse and wallet were held hostage in the car. The driver promptly returned with the woman's belongings.

Seattle Police Officer Eric Michl sent a selfie to a ride share driver early Sunday after a passenger's purse and wallet were held hostage in the car. The driver promptly returned with the woman's belongings.

A selfie sent from a Seattle cop to a ride share driver early Sunday prompted the immediate return of a passenger's purse she left in the vehicle and couldn't get back, reports say.

A woman and a group of friends reportedly took a ride share car to Capitol Hill about 2 a.m., after which the woman realized she left her purse and wallet inside the car after it drove away.

The woman, a California resident who was scheduled to fly home later in the day, contacted the driver and asked him to return her purse if she paid for an additional fare, according to Seattle police. The driver allegedly refused to do so and demanded more money.

The woman then spotted Officer Eric Michl working near Boylston Avenue and East Pine Street and asked him for help, reports indicate.

Michl called the ride share driver and was routed to his voicemail. He then texted the driver and indicated he could arrest him and impound his car if he didn't return the purse, police say. Michl also sent a selfie to the man to verify his identity.

The driver promptly returned Michl's call and returned to the scene. He reportedly claimed he was busy giving rides to other customers. He returned the purse.

The driver was identified and released at the scene, Seattle police say. Because the woman and her friends soon left town, detectives find it difficult to pursue the case, but it remains an open investigation.

Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.