The police are looking for a livery cab driver who allegedly tried to rape a customer, and police have released a video of the driver chasing her into her Astoria building.
Last Friday, July 13, at 1:35 a.m., the 20-year-old passenger had left the cab and sat on front stoop of a building near 30th Street and 34th Avenue in Queens. According to NBC New York, "he driver rounded the block twice, then stopped and asked her to join him for a drink, according to a law enforcement source. When she refused, he chased her into her building."
The driver got into the vestibule, grabbed her from behind, and attempted to rape her. The victim was able to break free during the struggle. The driver fled the scene and the victim was treated for minor injuries.
Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male, 20-25 years old, 5'4" and 150 lbs, last seen wearing a black shirt with dark pants and frameless eye glasses. Cops also say he was driving a light-colored Lincoln Town Car.
City Council Member Peter Vallone told his constituents (via Facebook) today, "be on alert! as i wrote in a recent post, you are NOT safe just because you get into a cab. always keep your wits about you and write down the name of cabbie and company, especially if you are putting an intoxicated friend into a cab - and let's get this piece of trash! (p.s. no reflection on this individual case, which has a different fact pattern than most i've seen as a former prosecutor)"
