Lyft Driver Held Hostage Inside Georgia Sheriff’s Office After Passenger Pulls Knife

An early morning Lyft ride in Georgia turned terrifying when a passenger pulled a knife and forced the driver to take him straight to the sheriff’s office—literally.

The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that around 4 a.m. Thursday, David Christopher Morris was riding in a Lyft through Hall County when he suddenly turned violent. Reports say he brandished a knife and ordered his driver to take him directly to the Dawson County Sheriff’s Office.

But things didn’t end there.

Once they arrived, Morris allegedly forced the driver—still at knifepoint—into the building and demanded to speak with Sheriff Jeff Johnson. Officers inside were immediately alerted, and the situation escalated quickly into a hostage crisis.

Law enforcement called in the sheriff and the SWAT team. Sheriff Johnson personally engaged with Morris, managing to calm the situation. After some tense moments, Morris gave up his knife and released the driver, who suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by EMS.

Officials haven’t said why Morris wanted to speak to the sheriff or what triggered the outburst. Charges against him haven’t been revealed yet, but Morris is currently behind bars at the Dawson County Detention Center.

The sheriff’s office praised Johnson’s calm leadership, saying the resolution could’ve ended much worse.

Meanwhile, Lyft has already deactivated Morris from the platform and is working with law enforcement.

A Lyft ride that should’ve been a quick trip turned into a real-life thriller—and one that could’ve ended in tragedy if not for some quick action from law enforcement.