IC Cab Driver accused of assault
Hunter
6/28/19
An Iowa City cabdriver has been charged with assault after after allegedly fighting over the fare with one of his passengers.
Authorities indicated that the woman was a passenger in a cab operated by 56-year-old John Andrews of Rundell Street the morning of June 20th. There apparently was an argument over the amount due; the woman paid Andrews $10 but he believed she owed another $6.
The woman told Andrews that she would get the remainder of the fare due out of her suitcase, which was in the trunk of the cab. She allegedly removed her suitcase then attempted to remove a car seat out of the back seat of the cab. Andrews allegedly held on to the car seat and told authorities he thought she was going to leave without paying the remainder of the fare.
The two pulled back and forth on the car seat until Andrews allegedly put the cab in gear and started to drive away. The woman held onto the car seat for a few steps before falling to the ground and scratching her hand.
Andrews stopped his cab. The woman then got up and hit Andrews on the right forearm, which caused him to release his grip on the car seat.
Andrews has been charged with assault, a simple misdemeanor punishable by a maximum jail sentence of thirty days. His initial appearance is scheduled for July 23rd.
