Hero cab driver from Astoria honored

Hero cab driver Adil Abousallham was presented with a City Council citation by City Councilmember Eric Gioia in recognition of his heroism in apprehending a violent criminal.
In the early morning hours on Saturday, September 28 Abousallham, a taxi driver from Astoria, witnessed an assault while driving his cab in the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
The alleged assailant, Luis Garcia-Ponce, hailed Abousallham’s cab in an attempt to get away from a woman with a bloodied face that stood nearby. When Garcia-Ponce entered the vehicle, Abousallham got out, locked all the doors and held the attacker inside the cab until the police arrived at the scene.
Abousallham was quite humble when asked about his heroic act.
“I did what I was supposed to do, I did a good job and I feel proud,” Abousallham said. He told Garcia-Ponce, who was locked in the cab, “we’re going to stay here until the police come.”
“That girl could be my sister, my mother,” Abousallham said.
The official City Council citation applauded Abousallham’s bravery in the face of danger and Gioia echoed those sentiments.
“This man is a shining example of what people can do for each other in this city; our city needs more heroes like him,” Gioia said. “His quick thinking and bravery have put a wanted man behind bars and he has done us a great service by keeping our streets safe from a dangerous criminal.”
New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA) Executive Director Bhairavi Desai joined Gioia at the ceremony.
“We’re so proud of Adil, “she said. “This was an incredible act of courage and heroism. And, it just goes to prove that taxi drivers are everyday heroes and heroines on our streets.”
At the time of his arrest, police were looking for Garcia-Ponce because he was wanted for a number of other crimes. Garcia-Ponce is currently being held without bail on several charges of sexual assault, robbery, burglary and criminal possession of stolen property.
Biju Matthew, Co-Founder of the NYTWA, a 10,000-member union that seeks to improve working conditions for taxi drivers, said these acts of courage from cab drivers like Abousallham happen often.
“They [cab drivers] are out in the streets 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week so our drivers see a lot of things happening and often can help out someone that is being mugged or robbed,” Matthew said. “Driving a cab in New York City is a dangerous job with violent criminals in the street at night. We are lucky to have these drivers like Abousallham because they are the eyes and ears of the city and they look to help people in trouble.”
“I am not looking for it, [a reward], but if they want to give me something, then I will take it, why not?”, Abousallham said.