Crime & Safety

Search Continues for Cabbie's Attackers

The United cab driver was beaten, robbed and shot at Monday night.

The Tampa Police Department is on the hunt for five people it says flagged down, beat and robbed a United Cab driver Monday night.

The incident unfolded as Wafik Hassan, 57, was driving his cab along Laurel Street in the area of Lois and Hubert. Five people, four men and a woman, flagged down the cab, the police wrote in an email to media. Two of the men walked up to the cab, tried to pull Hassan out through the driver’s side door and “pistol whipped” him, police reported. The men took Hassan’s wallet and cell phone and then all five people got into a white vehicle and fled the scene.

Hassan, police said, followed the white vehicle and relayed information to his dispatcher. At several intervals, the vehicle stopped and suspects got out.

Find out what's happening in Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

At one point, police say, shots were fired at the cab as Hassan continued to follow his attackers. In the area of Clark and Nassau, the suspects got out of the vehicle and ran away on foot, police said.

The car was recovered and police are following up on leads, the email stated.

Find out what's happening in Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Hassan suffered minor injuries during the attack.

Image via Shutterstock

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.