By Juan Soto
A 41-year-old Ridgewood resident was arrested Tuesday for allegedly stabbing a livery cab driver several times in the vicinity of the suspect’s home and then driving off with the victim’s taxi, authorities said.
Hours before the cabbie attack Sept. 24, the suspect, Kenneth Suden, allegedly robbed a Ridgewood grocery store at knifepoint, Queens District Attorney Richard Brown said.
The Queens district attorney said Suden was charged with attempted murder, robbery, assault, and criminal possession of a weapon. He faces up to 50 years behind bars if convicted in both cases.
The district attorney and the police said cab driver, Fernando Crespin, 30, was attacked about 1 a.m. on Sept. 24 after he picked up the suspect in Cypress Hills, Brooklyn. Suden asked the victim to take him to 68-16 70th St., in Ridgewood.
Authorities said the victim was stabbed in his torso, arm and hands.
According to the criminal complaint filed by the Queens DA’s office, the suspect allegedly put a knife to Crespin throat, demanded money and then attack him while driving in the vicinity of 60-19 70th Ave.,
The victim was able to free himself and asked for help, the NYPD said. The suspect sped off in the victim’s vehicle, a 2012 Toyota Camry, the complaint said. .
The victim was taken to Elmhurst Hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.
Brown said Crespin underwent multiple surgeries for his injuries. He is expected to undergo more surgeries to fix severed ligaments in his hands.
According to a second criminal complaint, Suden entered a grocery store at Putman Avenue and said “they are going to kill me if I don’t pay them back.” He then allegedly took money form the cash register and fled on foot, the court document said.
“The defendant is accused of committing two armed robberies within the space of hours, one of which left a hardworking New Yorker fighting for his life,” Brown said. Suden “will now face the consequences of his alleged actions.”
“To hear of this brutal stabbing is a shock and utterly disheartening,” state Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach) said at the time of the incident. “A livery cab driver doing his job, actually anyone doing their job, should not be the victims of meaningless violence.”
Reach reporter Juan Soto by e-mail at jsoto@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4564.
