Queens Man Accused Of Stabbing Livery Cab Driver Arrested
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A Queens man accused of stabbing a livery cab driver has been arrested.
Kenneth Suden has been charged with attempted murder, robbery, assault, grand larceny auto and criminal possession of a weapon. He was arrested after a guard noticed him at a hospital in Queens on Monday. It's not clear why he was there.
Suden is accused of stabbing 30-year-old driver Fernando Crespin seven times back on Sept. 25.
Police said Crespin was dispatched to Hemlock Street and Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn where he picked up Suden, who asked to be taken to 68-16 60th Street in Ridgewood, Queens.
As they neared 60-19 70th Avenue, police said an argument ensued and Sudden attacked Crespin, stabbing him in the torso, arm and hands.
Police said Suden then sped off in Crespin's livery cab, leaving the 30-year-old driver bleeding on the street. Suden then allegedly ditched the cab at a bus stop where the blood splattered car was later ticketed, without being inspected.
Crespin was later found by a good Samaritan and taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition. He is being treated for injuries that include a punctured liver.
On Tuesday, the Federation of Taxi Drivers praised the NYPD for making a quick arrest.
"The message that we're sending out there today is that is you commit a crime against a cab driver you will be caught," Fernando Mateo said.
Police said that hours before the stabbing Suden robbed a grocery store with a knife.
The union said that the case brought light to the need for more programs to ensure the safety of drivers around the city. As CBS 2's Don Champion reported, those programs are apparently in the works with the NYPD.
"We're talking about making sure that we have the police task force back on the streets. Many cops driving livery cabs meaning you don't know if you're getting in a cab with a cop or livery cab driver," Mateo said.
Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com:
