NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – A cabbie accused of stabbing a rider who didn't pay their fare says he's innocent but will turn himself in on Monday to face charges.
Sandy de Jesus Rodriguez held a news conference Sunday to offer his explanation of what happened.
It all stems from an incident in the Bronx in October. Mateo says he got out of his cab to get his money back from a woman who'd skipped the fare when he was confronted by a man who tried to assault him. Video of the incident shows the three in an altercation inside a building entryway.
Speaking through a translator, Rodriguez said he didn't even know he was wanted in the incident. He said he's been robbed three times by the same couple of fare-beaters—amounting to nearly $200 in lost cash.
And while he admits it appears that he stabbed the man, he's demanding hospital records to prove the passenger suffered stab wounds from what Rodriguez called a small pocketknife.
Fernando Mateo, head of the Federation Of Taxi Drivers, said Rodriguez doesn't know why the news is reporting that he stabbed the man. He says he didn't even throw a punch.
"The passengers are definitely the criminals. And they live right here. And they've done it to him before. It's not the first time. When he got out to tell her to give him his money back, he saw the guy, and he says these were the two that robbed me a few months ago," Mateo said.
Mateo says the incident is nothing more than a man in fear of his life defending himself after confronting people who'd robbed him in the past.
"He never stabbed the guy. He never came close to stabbing the guy," Mateo said.
Rodriguez is set to surrender at the 46th precinct stationhouse Monday morning.
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