Jetblue pilots beat the crap out of Taxi driver

[THEICEMAN]

I know this comes straight from A-net again. But it's too ridiculous....I wonder what their excuse was?

http://www.miamiherald.com/466/story/708057.html

Two Jet Blue pilots have been charged with two counts of theft and one of felony battery after allegedly attacking Miami cab driver Juan Martin over a $9 fare after a ride from a Fort Lauderdale strip club to a Subway restaurant, police said.

Pilots William Hart Smith, 40, and Brad Leopard, 38, both of Fort Lauderdale, allegedly attacked Miami cab driver Juan Martin about 2 a.m. on Aug. 12, said Fort Lauderdale Detective Katherine Collins. The pilots were arrested weeks later, on Sunday.

Martin said he picked the men up at the Solid Gold strip club on Oakland Park Boulevard, and they asked to be taken to a Subway. When he dropped the men off, they began arguing aver the $9 fare, Collins said.

The men walked away from the cab without paying, according to the police report. The cabbie got out of his car and demanded payment, but they got angry and said something like, ''Who do you think we are? Tourists?'' Martin told police.

The men hit the cabbie in the head, then got more violent, according to the police report. They kicked and punched Martin in the head and face.

The cabbie suffered a concussion, a broken ankle and bruises to his elbow and knee.

A witness confirmed that the victim was repeatedly kicked and punched, and a Subway surveillance camera caught the incident on tape, according to the report.

Alison Eshelman, a spokeswoman for Jet Blue, declined to comment whether Smith and Leopard still worked for the airline after their arrests.

''We will continue to monitor the case,'' she said.

[THEICEMAN]

Well to come to think of it....I know that area pretty well & I do know the location of the strip club. It's a 2 minute drive away from the nearest subway. Maybe they felt cheated + one too many drinks????

BTW, that's the same strip club some of the 9/11 terrorist went to weeks before the day.

[What Flaps?]

Not sure what being a Jetblue pilot has to do with the story? Why does it matter who they work for.

[Troubleshot]

This just adds to the truth that all pilots are poor...

[flying4dollars]

Not sure what being a Jetblue pilot has to do with the story? Why does it matter who they work for.

because for most people, its more shocking hearing someone with a respectable profession committing such crimes.

doc, lawyer, pilot, astro-physicist etc vs a salesman or landscaper (just suggesting the idea, don't jump down my throat on this one)

[Rubberbiscuit]

because for most people, its more shocking hearing someone with a respectable profession committing such crimes.

Being a pilot is considered to be a respectable profession now?

[niss]

BTW, that's the same strip club some of the 9/11 terrorist went to weeks before the day.

So you are saying that strippers hate freedom?

[sdogg0]

felony assault, $9 for a taxi ride. I would much rather work a week for $9 to pay the taxi driver before I would go to prison, that $9 dollars wouldnt even buy you some soap on a rope in the big house. Stupid decision

[sugarfree]

I wonder how much the pilots spent at Solid Gold,

SF./

[Hoov]

BTW, that's the same strip club some of the 9/11 terrorist went to weeks before the day.

So you are saying that strippers hate freedom?

LMAO

[Hedley]

NOBODY messes with Jetblue.

Ok, maybe . Norris could mess with Jetblue.