A woman armed with a knife assaulted and robbed a 71-year-old taxi driver who transported her to San Francisco’s Bayview District late Thursday night, a police spokesman said today.
On Thursday night, a taxi company received a call from the suspect requesting a cab pick her up on Dakota Street at the Potrero Terrace public housing complex in the city’s Potrero Hill neighborhood, according to San Francisco police spokesman Officer Albie Esparza.
At about 10:45 p.m., a yellow cab driven by a 71-year-old man picked up the woman. She requested the cab driver take her to the 1000 block of Palou Avenue in the city’s Bayview District.
Upon arrival at the destination, the woman grabbed the cab driver from behind with her arm. She put him in a headlock and cut his face with a knife while demanding money, according to Esparza.
The woman and cab driver engaged in a struggle and the woman not only evaded paying her fare, but stole the cab driver’s cellphone and cash before getting out of the cab and running away on Palou Avenue, Esparza said.
The suspect, described as a black woman weighing 250 pounds, standing about 5 feet 7 inches tall and between 27 and 33 years of age was wearing a black shirt and black pants during the assault.
Following the assault and robbery, the cab driver drove to the Bayview police station to report the incident.
While police have not yet arrested the suspect, Esparza said that because she requested the cab using a phone, investigators have that phone number and the name she used to request the cab.
Investigators are working to find the woman, according to Esparza.
Esparza said the cab driver suffered minor lacerations to his face, but declined to be transported to the hospital.
Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News
