Arrest made in cab theft
Police have charged an Overbrook man with stealing a cab from a gas station and taking it on a joyride Wednesday.
AN OVERBROOK man faces carjacking charges after police say he took a taxi for a joyride through the city in the early hours on Wednesday.
Albert Washington, 22, was arrested on Thursday at his home on Malvern Avenue near 58th Street, police said. Washington allegedly stole an All City cab from a Hess gas station on South Broad Street in Center City about 2:15 a.m.
The cabdriver told police that as he was fueling the vehicle, Washington pushed him aside and climbed into the driver's seat. The driver was able to grab onto the door's handle, but lost his grip as Washington sped away, police said.
About 20 minutes later, officers observed a taxi matching the description run through a stop sign at 56th Street near Lebanon Avenue in Overbrook, almost striking the officers' cruiser.
The officers pursued Washington, who led them on a high-speed chase through Overbrook, speeding through multiple red lights in an attempt to evade them. Washington crashed the cab into a tree and several parked vehicles on Diamond Street near 56th, and ran.
In addition to carjacking, Washington also faces fleeing police and related charges in the chase with the officers.
- Vinny Vella