Connecticut Resident Takes Road Less Traveled In Refusing To Pay Cab Fare (Update)
While Charles Martin, too, passed out in the back of his taxi on the drive home and, like his brother in arms, awoke unhappy and surprised to learn he was required to pay for his ride, upon coming to he merely questioned the sexuality of the officers on the scene before threatening what would happen if they came any closer.
A city man with more than $1,300 in his pocket was charged Thursday morning with trying to snub a taxicab driver out a $43 fare, police said. Charles Martin, 35, of 15 School St., Norwalk, was charged with sixth-degree larceny and resisting arrest and was held in lieu of $1,000 bond. Norwalk police Sgt. Lisa Cotto said a Stamford cab driver showed up at police headquarters just after 3:30 a.m. Thursday complaining that he had a man in his cab refusing to pay the fare from the Stamford train station to the man's School Street home.
When police went to the cab, Martin was asleep and appeared drunk, telling them to leave him alone, Cotto said. After he was arrested, police found $1,353 in cash in his pocket, Cotto said. Unhappy with being arrested for trying to stiff the cabbie, Martin allegedly warned the police officers -- who he also said were gay -- what would happen when they removed the cuffs from his hands.
No word on what that was but odds it involved a pen knife are high.
Update: "Police said they told Martin, who was inebriated, he had to pay the fare, but he refused, saying, 'I don't care who you are.' Police said he wanted to sleep, refused to get out of the cab, punched an officer and said, 'It's on now.' Police held a Taser to him and pulled the trigger, a dry stun. Martin continued his uncooperative behavior in the holding cell, Cotto said."
Cops: Man with $1,300 in pocket refused to pay $43 cab fare [Stamford Advocate]
Related: Banking Exec Maintains Innocence Re: Stabbing Cab Driver
Norwalk Man Charged in Taxi Disturbance [Norwalk via TDS]