Caught On Video: Standoff Between Cabbie And SUV!
It started as a small fender bender between a cab and a black SUV in Lakeview. But it was enough to trigger a confrontation that ended up with three more cars hit -- and the cab sideswiped as the SUV sped away.
Police caught up with the SUV, which they said was stolen, about a block away. The 19-year-old driver was charged with several misdemeanors, including aggravated assault and criminal trespass to property.
The street drama played out around 4:15 p.m. on Oct. 30 in the 1400 block of West Belmont Avenue and was caught on video by someone on a rooftop.
A cabbie is seen getting out of his taxi in the middle of Belmont and yelling at an SUV that has just bumped into him. The SUV backs away and there is a brief standoff until the following game of chicken unfolds.
-- The SUV tries to turn around but can't because of traffic. Cabbie ducks into his taxi and pulls out some kind of club -- or maybe an umbrella.
-- Cabbie challenges the SUV to come at him, waving his hands while he and the SUV approach each other. Inches between them, the cabbie backs off but then leans on the hood of the SUV, waving the club.
-- The SUV driver opens his door for the first time, but closes it when the cabbie yells at him. He starts driving toward the cabbie, who throws his hands on the hood of the SUV, then runs to the driver's side and hits the window with the club. The glass doesn't break.
-- Cabbie takes another whack at the SUV as it makes a break for it. But the SUV hits another cab in the other lane of traffic. The SUV backs up, just missing the cabbie, and hits a parked car. It pulls forward and sideswipes the cabbie's taxi, then hits another SUV with a dealership sticker on its windshield.
-- The SUV backs up and speeds off, a piece of the front bumper dangling.
Police News Affairs Officer Michael Sullivan said the SUV driver was charged with criminal trespass to property, driving without a license, damage to property, leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated assault and driving without valid insurance. All the charges were misdemeanors, and Sullivan would not identify the driver.
Police caught up with the SUV, which they said was stolen, about a block away. The 19-year-old driver was charged with several misdemeanors, including aggravated assault and criminal trespass to property.
The street drama played out around 4:15 p.m. on Oct. 30 in the 1400 block of West Belmont Avenue and was caught on video by someone on a rooftop.
A cabbie is seen getting out of his taxi in the middle of Belmont and yelling at an SUV that has just bumped into him. The SUV backs away and there is a brief standoff until the following game of chicken unfolds.
-- The SUV tries to turn around but can't because of traffic. Cabbie ducks into his taxi and pulls out some kind of club -- or maybe an umbrella.
-- Cabbie challenges the SUV to come at him, waving his hands while he and the SUV approach each other. Inches between them, the cabbie backs off but then leans on the hood of the SUV, waving the club.
-- The SUV driver opens his door for the first time, but closes it when the cabbie yells at him. He starts driving toward the cabbie, who throws his hands on the hood of the SUV, then runs to the driver's side and hits the window with the club. The glass doesn't break.
-- Cabbie takes another whack at the SUV as it makes a break for it. But the SUV hits another cab in the other lane of traffic. The SUV backs up, just missing the cabbie, and hits a parked car. It pulls forward and sideswipes the cabbie's taxi, then hits another SUV with a dealership sticker on its windshield.
-- The SUV backs up and speeds off, a piece of the front bumper dangling.
Police News Affairs Officer Michael Sullivan said the SUV driver was charged with criminal trespass to property, driving without a license, damage to property, leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated assault and driving without valid insurance. All the charges were misdemeanors, and Sullivan would not identify the driver.
The cabbie was not charged but his company says it is reviewing his response to the incident.
"Unfortunately, this could have been handled a different way," said Cometas Dilanjian, president of City Service Taxi. The cabbie "didn't realize this was a stolen car, and he probably didn't realize the danger. [Now] we're telling our drivers, don't get this deeply involved, get a plate number and just walk away."
"Unfortunately, this could have been handled a different way," said Cometas Dilanjian, president of City Service Taxi. The cabbie "didn't realize this was a stolen car, and he probably didn't realize the danger. [Now] we're telling our drivers, don't get this deeply involved, get a plate number and just walk away."
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