Two Arrested For Robbing Taxi Driver

LAWRENCEVILLE, GA -- Two Lawrenceville men were arrested Saturday, charged with beating and robbing a taxi driver.

Aram Johnson, 21, is charged with robbery, burglary and possession of marijuana and Keondrae Prater, 18, faces a charge of robbery in the incident, which happened shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday.

According to Gwinnett County Police, an off-duty officer witnessed the taxi driver being assaulted along the side of the road near the intersection of Lawrenceville Highway and Halcyon Way.

The driver told police he had picked up a man on Ashley Lakes Drive in Norcross and that the man instructed him to pick up another man and two juvenile females at an apartment complex in Norcross.

He took the group to the Halcyon Way location, police say. When the driver asked for payment, he said one of the men tried to offer him a watch instead.

When the driver demanded money, one of the men began to beat him in the head and upper body, police said. The driver got out of the car and tried to defend himself and the off-duty officer stopped to help.

When the suspects saw the officer, police say, they ran away, leaving some of their personal belongings behind.

The 40-year-old driver suffered cuts on his head and foot.

Eventually, police say, both suspects were spotted in the area of Lawrenceville Highway and Shannon Way. They were placed under arrested and taken to Gwinnett County Jail.

The girls, ages 14 and 16, said they left the taxi when they saw the assault taking place. They were later released to the custody of an adult.

(Photo courtesy Gwinnett County Police Department)