Cabbie Who Called Police After Being Stabbed Is Arrested at the Emergency Room
A New York cabdriver who called police after a stranger slashed him in the face, hand and neck was shocked when he was arrested in the emergency room.
Fitz Fullerton told the New York Times he was arrested as he received dozens of stitches for his wounds, thought to be the work of a man who killed four people in a 28-hour rampage on Friday and Saturday.
“I believed a police officer was supposed to protect you,” Fullerton told the Times. “Someone tried to kill me and I didn’t call the police for them to arrest me; I called them to protect me.”
Police say Fullerton was arrested on a 2001 warrant stemming from a family court matter. Fullerton told the newspaper the arrest was for an outstanding parking ticket, although he confirmed that police had asked him about child support. The story also points out that Fullerton has an arrest record for marijuana possession, theft of services and criminal possession of a weapon, but those cases have been closed.
After his arrest, Fullerton says, he was taken to a communal holding cell, where he had to stand for most of the 10 hours he was held there. He says he was not given any pain medication, and no food until police gave him some tea later in the day. Police, however, say Fullerton spent only about an hour in the communal cell and he was released because they did not want to hold a crime victim over the weekend until family court opened.
After his release, Fullerton was asked to identify the suspect, Maksim Gelman, in a lineup. Fullerton has contacted a lawyer, who is considering legal action.
