Men Accused Of Beating, Carjacking Cabbie In Miami
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Two people were taken into custody after police say a cab driver was beaten, robbed and carjacked in Miami.
Eighteen year old Steve Manilla and Anthony Hernandez are facing charges for carjacking and fleeing from police over the incident.
The driver, Herbeto Fletes, told CBS4's Gaby Fleischman he got a call around 4 a.m. to pick up a fare on the 1100 block of SW 8th Street. Three men reportedly got in the cab, and told the 'cabbie' to pull over a few blocks later. That's when Fletes said one of the men grabbed him around the neck and a second man punched him.
"They begin beating him and forcing him out of his own car," said Miami Police Detective Rene Pimentel. "These three thugs basically took off with the taxi."
Fletes ran to nearby gas station and called the police.
Officers spotted the cab a short time later and after a brief chase, the driver of the stolen cab took a wrong turn and hit a dead end at NW South River Drive and 18th Place. Police say two men inside the cab, Manilla and Hernandez, made a run for it, but didn't get very far and were arrested.
Police say Manilla resisted arrest and was subdued with a taser before being put into handcuffs.
The third suspect, who fled prior to the officers spotting the cab, got away with Fletes' money, an iPhone 6 and a Samsung Tab 4. He remains at large.
If you have any information you're asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
