Cab cam catches assault, helps solve theft

Cab cam catches assault, helps solve theft

PLAINFIELD: Using images taken from a recently-installed video surveillance camera, police have identified five people involved in a confrontation with a city taxicab driver and the subsequent theft of his vehicle.

Detectives were still searching for three men in their 20s, who allegedly took part in the June 14 incident that happened at 5:30 a.m. on the 1400 block of East Second Street, said Police Chief Edward Santiago.

The car's video camera captures one of the men punching the driver in the back of the head. A complaint has been issued against him, although he had not been arrested as of yesterday afternoon. The driver was note seriously injured in the theft, police said, and the car was found about three hours later on the 600 block of East Front Street.

The victim, in his 40s, works for Plainfield Yellow Taxi.

Police have spoken with the two women, one 16 and the other 18, but have not charged them, Santiago said.

In recent months, United, Caribe and Yellow cab companies have installed small video cameras in all their vehicles to protect drivers after a few were assaulted.

The Association of Owners and Chauffeurs of Plainfield, along with the Latin American Coalition, have scheduled a news conference for 11:30 a.m. today at 171 North Avenue to discuss the issue.

Published in the Star-Ledger, Friday, June 22, 2007

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