Cabbie Busted in Sunnyside Attack
An unlicensed cabbie found himself behind bars on February 7 after he beat a Queens woman over a fare dispute, police said.
Cops said cabbie Francisco Martinez agreed on a fare of $30 to drive the 24-year-old female victim from The Bronx to her Sunnyside residence, but when he pulled up outside her apartment building Martinez locked the doors and refused to allow the woman to leave the cab. Instead, Martinez drove the terrified woman toward the Queensboro Bridge.
Police sources said the woman told investigators Martinez got infuriated when she dialed 911 for help. He pulled over to the curb and pulled her from the cab “by the seat of [her] pants”, the woman said. “He then proceeded to beat me up,” the woman told police.
The victim said Martinez punched her “so many times I can’t remember”, until a good Samaritan saw the attack and intervened tackling Martinez and holding him until police arrived.
Martinez was charged with third-degree assault. Police said a background check confirmed that Martinez is not licensed to drive a cab.
