Crime and Courts

Cab Driver Wanted by Cops for Alleged Stabbing Surrenders, Says He Was a Robbery Victim

What to Know

  • A cab driver accused of stabbing a man in the Bronx last month says he was actually the victim
  • Sandy de Jesus Rodriguez says he was confronting a woman who left his cab on Oct. 13 without paying and stole cash from him
  • That's when a 21-year-old man came towards Rodriguez and the driver pulled out a knife to defend himself but he says he didn't stab anyone

A cab driver accused of stabbing a man in the Bronx last month turned himself in Monday after seeing himself on the news − but he claims he was actually the victim of a robbery, not the perpetrator of a crime.

Fernando Mateo, the head of the taxi drivers federation, spoke to reporters Sunday on behalf of Sandy de Jesus Rodriguez, saying the cabbie was confronting a woman who left his cab on Oct. 13 without paying and stole cash from him.

According to Mateo, Rodriguez is the real victim, saying the woman allegedly stole $190 from him.

Rodriguez admitted that he was the man seen on video, released by the NYPD, waving a small knife at a 21-year-old man at 2333 Webster Avenue. 

"The guy came towards him and he pulled out a pocket knife that he uses to eat his oranges and apples in the car. He used the knife to try to keep the guy away from him because he was afraid the guy was going to beat him up," Mateo said.

It's unclear whether the alleged stabbing victim is connected to the woman.

The cab driver said he didn't stab the man in the torso as police had said, claiming he did not get close enough to the man in order for this to have happened. Rodriguez didn't even know he was wanted by police until he saw himself on the news, according to Mateo.

Rodriguez turned himself in to police custody Monday morning, but had no comment on his way into the stationhouse. He faces charges of menacing, assault and criminal possession of a weapon. 

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