Angry At Fare, Passenger Chokes Cabbie

Steven Thomas, 42, of Niles was charged with battery after a dispute with a taxi driver on Saturday just before 11 p.m. Police said Stevens became upset when he heard the taxi driver tell him he would have to pay a fuel surcharge and taxes in addition to the taxi fare, and when the cabbie requested the money, Stevens grabbed him by the throat and began squeezing his neck.

This happened inside a building at 6300 Touhy, near the elevators. The cabbie was able to break away and building security was able to separate the two until police arrived, according to the report. 

The cabbie wanted the offender prosecuted for battery and said he would sign complaints.

Thomas' court date is June 8 in the Skokie branch of the Cook County courts.

Man charged with DUI tries to stumble away

Tomy Joseph, 46, of Niles was charged with DUI and reckless driving Sunday at 6:24 p.m. when police responded to a report of him hitting curbs while driving. As police arrived behind him, they said Joseph accelerated to get away and disregarded a stop sign on Kedzie. The officer lost sight of him, but a short time later, a park patrol officer located his vehicle on Olcott and Kedzie. Police said Joseph was walking away from the vehicle and refused to stop, though he stumbled and fell several times. The officer eventually got him to stop, and smelled alcohol on his breath, according to the report, and Joseph admitted to driving the vehicle. Police detained him because they said he refused to stand still and tried to walk away several times. His court date is June 8. 

Information is taken from reports. 

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