Judge’s Son a Possible Suspect in Cabdriver Robberies

The 33-year-old son of a federal judge is being investigated as a possible suspect in a series of robberies that have plagued San Diego cabdrivers since August.

Earl Kenneth Gilliam, whose father is U.S. District Judge Earl B. Gilliam, and an alleged accomplice were arrested Tuesday night in connection with the strong-arm robbery of a cabdriver. They were captured after being spotted from a police helicopter.

The younger Gilliam and Anthony Booth, 28, both of San Diego were booked into County Jail on suspicion of robbery and are being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned today in Municipal Court.

Shortly after 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, two men hailed a Yellow Cab downtown and told the driver to take them to Evans Street and Imperial Avenue in Southeast San Diego, said Bill Robinson, a San Diego Police Department spokesman.

When the cab reached that location the passenger in the back seat got the driver in a “bear hug” while the man in the front passenger’s seat rifled through the driver’s pockets, taking a gold chain and keys to the cab, Robinson said.

The driver, who was not identified, was not injured and no gun was used in the robbery.

Police learned of the robbery from a witness who flagged down a patrol car. Officers in the car alerted crew of a police helicopter about the incident.

The two passengers fled on foot but men matching their descriptions were spotted from the helicopter a few blocks away in the 2900 block of L Street, Robinson said.

Sgt. Jim Munsterman, one of the officers who has been investigating the recent series of cabdriver robberies, said Wednesday: “We have . . . similarities. We’re looking at the two suspects arrested last night to see if they were involved.”

Munsterman would discuss the similarities for fear of endangering the investigation because “only the bad guys know about it,” he said.