Maspeth Man Busted For Mugging
Instead of paying for his ride, a Maspeth man roughed up a taxi driver and took his cab, but was later caught by police following the attack early last Saturday morning, May 5, law enforcement sources said.
The suspect was identified by police as 37-year-old Bryan Wetheral of 59th Drive.
According to information provided by the Queens District Attorney’s office, the trouble began at around 2:30 a.m. in the vicinity of the suspect’s home on 59th Drive near Fresh Pond Road.
Reportedly, Wetheral was picked up by the taxi driver at a location in Manhattan and brought back to his residence.
When the cab driver asked for payment, authorities said, Wetheral allegedly refused to comply, then reached through the partition and grabbed the driver by the hair.
According to the criminal complaint, the suspect then exited the vehicle and assaulted the driver, striking him across the chest and wrist. Mo- ments later, it was reported, Wetheral got behind the wheel of the cab and took off.
Members of the 104th Precinct responded to the scene. The taxi driver was not seriously injured.
Officers stopped Wetheral a short time later and charged him with two counts of second-degree robbery as well as fourth-degree grand larceny, unauthorized use of a vehicle and theft of services.
Court records noted that the suspect was arraigned later last Saturday in Queens Criminal Court before Judge Michael Yavinsky, who released him on his own recognizance. Wetheral is scheduled to return to court on May 17.
