The Triangle

Issue date: 10/24/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Dave Hernandez

A female Drexel University student reported Oct. 12 that she was held captive and sexually assaulted in South Philadelphia by a taxicab driver, according to an incident report from Drexel's Department of Public Safety.

Lt. Stephen Biello, of the Philadelphia Police Special Victims Unit said it is believed the assault occurred in an Olde City Taxi.

The suspect is described as a 25 to 30-year-old black male, 5-foot and 10-inches to 6-foot tall, dark complexion and a shaved head, according to Biello.

The victim called for a cab at 3rd and Manton Street and called for police on 5th and Washington Avenue, according to Domenic Ceccanecchio, senior associate vice president for Public Safety.

According to Biello, the victim noticed she was being driven in a route she did not recognize.

In a phone conversation Oct. 20, a person from Olde City Taxi who identified himself as the manager declined to comment and refused to answer questions from a student newspaper; however, Michael Lieberman, president of Olde City Taxi, said he has no knowledge of the investigation and has not been contacted by the police.

Biello said the cab company would have been contacted after the incident.

Lieberman has not returned a follow-up phone call at the time of this publication.

Ceccanecchio provided tips for students when riding in cabs: Try to use a reputable company, share a cab if possible, look for the medallion that shows inspection and maintenance, check to see the meter is working properly to avoid any fare disputes, and look for cab drivers to have their information posted in a visible spot for riders.

This article will be updated online at www.thetriangle.org as information becomes available.

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