Man Arrested For Armed Kidnapping of Taxi Driver in North Lauderdale

by Kevin Deutsch September 24, 2022

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By Kevin Deutsch

A man who held a taxicab driver at gunpoint in North Lauderdale after refusing to pay his fare on July 4 was arrested Thursday, authorities said.

Omarion Samuel, 18, of Sunrise, is charged with armed kidnapping, aggravated assault with a firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, and possessing a firearm by a delinquent, court records show.

Samuel gave his name as “James” when the victimized driver picked him up near the 7800 block of Southwest 8th Street around 1:30 a.m., according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.

Once Samuel was inside the cab and riding, the driver explained that full payment of the cab fare was required before drop-off. At that point, Samuel became irate, demanded another cab, and pulled a gun on the driver, authorities said.

Surveillance video from inside the taxicab showed the driver calling for a second cab and asking his passenger to wait outside, authorities said. The passenger, identified by BSO as Samuel, refused to leave the car and demanded the driver return him to the original pick-up spot.

A few minutes later, security footage showed the driver with his hands held up, begging for his life, authorities said. The victim told the gunman, “Please, don’t kill me,” before crashing into a parked car, the video showed.

The cab driver then returned to the original pick-up spot, and the passenger got out without paying his fare, according to BSO.

Samuel was being held without bond Friday at the Broward County Main Jail.

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Author Profile

Kevin Deutsch

Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning journalist and author of two nonfiction books. He covers general assignment news and Jewish community issues for Talk Media. He has also worked as a staff writer at The Miami Times, the Rio Grande SUN, the New York Daily News, Newsday, The Miami Herald, The Palm Beach Post, The Riverdale Press, and Bronx Justice News.