A green outer-boro taxi driver allegedly raped a customer near Fort Greene/Carroll Gardens early Monday morning.
The Daily News reports that the unidentified 26-year-old victim was leaving a friend's apartment in Fort Greene just after midnight yesterday when a green boro taxi pulled up. The driver, identified as 26-year-old Esa Alusaimi, offered to give her a ride. "I thought everything was normal, got in, told him where I was going," she told the tabloid.
Upon reaching her destination, though, Alusaimi told her the credit card machine was broken, a move the victim found suspect. He then began to "talk about his penis," and drove the victim to a deserted street before pulling over, climbing into the back seat and raping her, according to a criminal complaint provided to Gothamist by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office.
The victim told the News that the driver "got back to the front of the car and started driving" after raping her, then pulled over and gave her $10 to purchase him a pack of cigarettes from a deli. The victim fled the car but accidentally left her bag behind; Alusaimi then allegedly drove off with her purse.
Police say Alusaimi was arrested at around 12:50 a.m. when he ran a red light at Hicks and Union Streets in Carroll Gardens. The victim, who was treated at Kings County Hospital, had reported the rape and robbery to police the 76th Precinct, and police were able to identify Alusaimi.
The TLC tells us Alusaimi holds a probationary For-Hire Vehicle driver's license that was suspended after his arrest. Police say he has been charged with first degree rape and a criminal sex act.
