A dispute over a cab fare outside a Jericho motel turned violent early Saturday morning when a taxi driver was stabbed in the chest and abdomen, according to police. Josue Bustillo Ramirez, 28, of Hempstead, was arrested in connection with the attack and now faces felony assault and weapons charges.
Officers from the Second Squad responded to the Edgewood Motel at 38 Jericho Turnpike for a disturbance around 3:15 a.m. on October 31, according to lilifepolitics.com. Police said a verbal argument over payment for taxi services broke out in front of the motel involving Bustillo Ramirez and a 41-year-old passenger. As reported by Newsday, Bustillo Ramirez argued with both the unnamed passenger and the taxi driver before the confrontation escalated.
That argument allegedly escalated into a physical altercation, and police say Bustillo Ramirez used a knife to stab the driver in the chest and abdomen. The driver was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, the report notes. His injuries were described by police as non-life-threatening.
Charges Filed, Arraignment Set for Sunday
Bustillo Ramirez was charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, per the same account. Newsday reported that his arraignment was scheduled for Sunday, November 1. No information on a plea, bail status, or legal representation has been made public.
The Nassau County Police Department said in a news release that a Hempstead man was arrested in connection with the stabbing, and the department also reported on the driver's injuries and stable condition. Beyond the police account relayed through local reporting, the circumstances of the fare dispute and what specifically triggered the stabbing have not been independently detailed.
Taxi Drivers Have Faced Other Violent Incidents on Long Island
The Jericho stabbing adds to a string of violent incidents targeting Long Island taxi drivers this year. In June, James Davender and Antoine Sims, both 20 and from Wyandanch, were indicted on kidnapping and robbery charges after allegedly targeting a driver during a ride from Queens to Suffolk County, according to dailyvoice.com. Prosecutors in that case alleged Davender threatened to stab the driver with a folding knife unless he handed over his wallet, while Sims allegedly took about $60 from the driver's pocket. Both men faced up to 25 years in prison if convicted of the top charge, that outlet reported.
