Crime & Safety

Taxi Passenger from Milpitas Jail Headbutts Driver in Gilroy

A woman assaulted a taxi driver when she couldn't pay her $97.80 fare on Wednesday night.

A cab ride turned ugly for both the driver and passenger in Gilroy Wednesday night, one ending up injured and other with an assault citation.

The driver picked up the passenger, 20-year-old Lonnisha Roper of Gilroy around 11 p.m. at the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas, and drove her to Gilroy. Sgt. Pedro Espinoza said it appears Roper was just visiting and had not been an inmate at the jail.

By the time they arrived in town, the taxi fare had risen to $97.80, according to Gilroy Police logs.

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When the cab came to a stop on the 7300 block of Alexander Street, Roper said she was going to go get money to pay, but instead attempted to run away. The taxi driver followed her, at which point she turned around and head butted him, leaving a golf ball-sized contusion above his left eye, police said.

"A physical fight ensued and the driver was able to hold onto her," Espinoza said. "She started crying and he told her she had to come up with the money.

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A man then arrived and paid the driver part of the fare, followed by police, who issued Roper an assault citation and released her, Espinoza said.


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