By Michelle Han
Three Woodside men were arrested for allegedly robbing a livery cab driver Sunday and using his own seatbelt to try to strangle him, authorities said, as Queens police intensified their efforts to combat a wave of violence targeting livery cabs in the borough.
This year nine livery cab drivers in the city have been murdered while on the job, including a driver who was picking up a passenger in Astoria in January. Other drivers have been the victims of several crimes involving robberies or attempted robberies.
The three Woodside men were arrested Sunday after they allegedly choked a livery cab driver with his own seat belt and stole $150 from his car in the vicinity of 69th Street and 49th Avenue, police said. The driver escaped without serious injury.
The men were identified as Malachi McCann, 26, and Shane McMamee, 20, both of 47-15 58 St., and Rob Sloane, 25, of 58-29 43rd Ave., all in Woodside. Officer Theresa Farello, a police spokeswoman, said they were arrested and charged with assault, robbery, and criminal possession of a weapon and stolen property. A fourth suspect escaped, Farello said.
On Saturday, another livery driver was robbed in Richmond Hill. Police said the driver, who had a safety partition, picked up a street hail near the Van Wyck Expressway and Atlantic Avenue. The two men held a gun to the driver and stole $95, police said, before escaping. Police were still investigating the incident.
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