 Just yesterday in New York City, five French tourists were scammed by Ian McFarland, a repeat offender who led unknowing tourists to unlicensed taxis. Plainclothes police recognized Ian as he led the five tourists inside an unlicensed van. The officer reached inside to try to get the keys, but the driver, Khaalif Preacher, sped off with the unaware vacationers inside the van. Police pursued the van, which twisted through residential neighborhoods, traveling seven miles through two boroughs before it crashed into a US Postal Service in Brooklyn.
Two of the tourists: Esther-Ethy Mamane 26 and her mother Claudie, who were visiting New York to attend a religious seminar, were trying to calm the other screaming tourists with prayer as the chase ensued.
The two men Ian and Khaalif fled the moving vehicle to escape capture. They were caught shortly after by Police. The two men are charged for second-degree assault, second-degree assault on an officer, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and unlawful solicitation of ground transportation services.
Claudie had broken her arm when trying to flee from the smoking vehicle after it crashed. When she was leaving the van she fell and the car rolled over her arm. Claudie and Ester, who attended the news conference, were given a bag full of goodies, which also included Broadway show tickets, passes to MOMA (Museum of Modern Art) and transit fare cards.
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