Local

Cabbie says passenger attacked him after refusing to pick up hooker

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — An Orlando cab driver said his refusal to stop and pick up a hooker for a passenger turned into the most terrifying thing that's ever happened to him.

"He said, 'OK, you know what? Today's your last day. Say your prayers,'" cab driver Dunel Cadely said.

Investigators said a violent attack came just minutes after Cadely picked up Mexican businessman Enrique Cejacharur at a strip club.

According to Cadely, without warning, while driving Cejacharur to a hotel, the man demanded Cadely stop to pick up a prostitute.

Cadely said he refused.

According to Cadely, the man then became enraged, began breathing heavily and threatened to kill him.

"He [was] like a monster, breathing hard. I said, 'What's wrong with you? Are you OK?' Boom, he throw the first punch at me," he said.

Cadely said he was able to fend off the punches while driving at 70 mph. He said the Cejacharur then tried biting the glove box handle, and then tried to rip it off in an effort to stab Cadely in the neck with the sharp end.

According to investigators, Cejacharur told Cadely, "I am from Mexico. When I tear this off, I am going to kill you with it."

Cadely said the battle continued as he drove nine miles from the strip club to the hotel -- most of it at high speeds on the Beachline Expressway.

"I was driving with one foot out [of the door], and he keep throwing punches. I keep dodging it. I'm going like this keep the door back and forth, 70 mph." said Cadely.

Cadely finally jumped out of the cab as he was pulling into the hotel. He called 911.

He said he felt lucky to be alive.

Cadely said he was taken to the hospital because his blood pressure shot up and his head was banged up.

Cejacharur was arrested on charges of assault, attempted battery, criminal mischief and petit theft.

Investigators said the petit theft charge was added because after the incident was over because Cejacharur walked away without paying his $35 cab fare.