Suspects in taxi incident sought

Staff

Published Tuesday, July 30, 2002

Staff report

Police are searching for three men who allegedly tried to rob and strangle an elderly cab driver around 8:30 p.m. Friday.

The victim, John C. Watson, 74, a driver for United Cab Co., pulled into the Hardee's parking lot at 2301 Pruden Blvd. to get directions from his dispatcher.

Officer Michael E. Simpkins, spokesman for the Suffolk Police Department, said the victim reported that three men got into his taxi - one in the front seat, two in the back - and attempted to rob him. During that time, one of the suspects in the back seat tried to strangle Watson with a belt, said Simpkins.

The suspects fled when Watson managed to escape from his assailant's grip.

The driver's only injury was a minor cut on his neck.

Watson did not see the suspects in the back seat, but the one in the front seat was identified as black, between the ages of 18 and 19 and weighed approximately 170 pounds.

Anyone one with information on this robbery is asked to call the Suffolk Crimeline at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

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