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A cabbie, who was returning a passenger’s cell phone, was beaten so badly that he had trouble recalling what had happened Friday.
SWAT officers responded to the 500 block of Pierce Street where they found a 58-year-old taxi driver somewhat conscious on the ground beside his vehicle at 8:35 p.m., but unable to relay what had happened, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. Medics transported the man, who was suffering from a large cut to his lip and a lump on his head, to Jefferson.
It wasn’t until Sunday that he was able to share some details with police, Tolliver said.
On the night of the assault, the cabbie picked up a man and a woman at 11th and Sansom streets in Center City and took them to their destination on the 500 block of Pierce Street in Dickinson Narrows, Tolliver said. His next passenger informed him that a cell phone was left behind. That cell rang later and the former male passenger said, “Could you please bring back my cell phone? I really need it. Thank you.” The cab driver agreed. After a man, possibly the original passenger, flagged him down at Sixth and Pierce, opened the driver’s side door and pulled him out of the vehicle, the next thing the driver remembered was waking up in the hospital.
Nothing was taken from him or the auto, Tolliver said. The motive was unknown at press time.
Police are seeking the original passengers as persons of interest, Tolliver said. The man was described as black with a medium complexion, age 25 to 30, 6-foot-1, 260 pounds and clean shaven while the woman was described as black with a dark complexion, age 25 to 30, 5-foot-8, 250 pounds and wearing a purple shirt and purple pants.
To report information, call South Detectives’ tip line at 215-685-1635 or visit www.phillypolice.com/forms.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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