Cabbie Stabbed By Robber In Ridgewood
Shortly after allegedly robbing and stabbing a livery cab driver at a Ridgewood intersection last Friday night, Sept. 14, a Brooklyn man suspected of carrying out the violent caper was caught by police as they searched the nearby area, law enforcement sources said.
Police identified the perpetrator as 28-year-old Justino Jhensen of Ridgewood Avenue in Cypress Hills.
Jhensen was booked on seconddegree attempted murder charges and other counts for allegedly attacking the 39-year-old male cab driver in the vicinity of Bleecker Street and 60th Place at around 7:30 p.m. last Friday night. Reportedly, the victim was hospitalized with multiple stab wounds to his head and neck.
According to information obtained by the Queens District Attorney’s office, the taxi driver picked up Jhensen moments earlier at the corner of Menahan Street and Fresh Pond Road.
Moments later, authorities said, the suspect allegedly placed a knife to the driver’s neck and demanded cash.
At the intersection of Bleecker Street and 60th Place, authorities noted, Jhensen allegedly stabbed the victim in the head and neck, causing puncture wounds and gashes. He then removed cash and fled from the scene in an unknown direction.
Members of the 104th Precinct and EMS units responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call about the stabbing. The driver was brought to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries; he is expected to make a recovery.
Based on information obtained during their preliminary investigation, police launched a search of the surrounding area for the suspect. Jhensen, who matched the descrip- tion of the robbery suspect, was stopped by P.O. Derek Keane of the 104th Precinct in the vicinity of Madison Street and Forest Avenue, law enforcement sources said.
The criminal complaint noted that blood-stained cash and a quantity of cocaine-allegedly thrown to the street by Jhensen before he was collared- was recovered by police.
Jhensen was charged with second degree attempted murder, firstand second-degree robbery, criminal possession of stolen property, criminal possession of a controlled substance and criminal possession of a weapon, authorities said.
According to court records, he was arraigned in Queens Criminal Court on Sunday, Sept. 16, before Judge Pauline Mullings, who ordered him held on $500,000 bail. The suspect is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 2.
