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As a cabbie called the police on a non-paying customer in Hawthorne, the latter’s friend swiped his phone at gunpoint.
An unknown man entered a 68-year-old man’s taxi in Center City at 8:15 p.m. June 12 and requested a ride to 12th and Fitzwater streets, but upon arrival would not pay the fare, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. The cab driver continued to drive north on 12th Street to look for police. Then the passenger smacked him in the head twice before exiting the vehicle at Broad and Catharine streets.
The cabbie parked at the intersection to call police, but the customer returned with his friends, one of whom hopped off of a motorcycle and pointed a small, black gun to his head and demanded cash, but took his cell phone instead, Tolliver said. The group fled in an unknown direction.
The passenger was described as black, age 25, 6 foot, stocky and having close-cropped hair and no facial hair while the gunman was described as black, age 30, 5-foot-5 to 5-foot-8, thin and wearing a black short-sleeve shirt.
To report information, call South Detectives’ tip line at 215-685-1635, text PPDTIP (773847) or visit phillypolice.com/forms.
Contact Managing Editor Amanda L. Snyder at asnyder@southphillyreview.com or ext. 117.
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