Two More Taxicab Drivers Assaulted, Robbed

Two cab drivers were beaten and robbed, bringing to three the number of assaults on cabbies this week, police said Thursday.

Two National City women were arrested in connection with the robbery and stabbing of a Diamond Cab driver about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday, said Bill Robinson a spokesman for the San Diego Police Department.

The suspects, Odessa Cordova, 45, and Louise Harvey, 31, hailed a cab in National City and directed the driver to go to an address in East San Diego, Robinson said.

They allegedly ordered the driver, Jose Elguezabal, 38, to stop at the 4100 block of Redwood Street, Robinson said.

“One of the women put a knife to the driver’s throat while the other took money from his pants,” Robinson said. “One of the suspects tried to slice the victim across the throat.”

Elguezabal blocked the stabbing attempt, and suffered only a laceration on his hand, Robinson said.

Police arrested the suspects a short distance from the crime, Robinson said.

In the other robbery, two men beat a Yellow Cab driver and escaped with about $30 shortly after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, said Lt. Jerry Moody.

The men hailed the cab driver, Mark Gilligan, 41, at 16th and F streets, Moody said.

Gilligan drove the men to the 400 block of Cedar Street, where they grabbed him and punched him before escaping with his money, Moody said.

Police are still looking for suspects in that case, Moody said.

Earlier this week, a cab driver was beaten and robbed of $140 after picking up a fare at a La Jolla hotel.

Police officials and mayoral aides have been trying to devise ways to reduce the number of attacks that have plagued cab drivers this summer. Officials set up a meeting with representatives of the city’s cab companies last month after two drivers were shot, one fatally, during robbery attempts on consecutive days.