Virginia

Taxi Driver Accused of Abducting Women Who Couldn't Pay Fare

A taxi driver is facing abduction charges after police say he locked three women inside his cab and drove away when they could not pay the fare. 

Muzemil Denbel Awel, 30, has been charged with three counts of abduction in connection with the May 6 incident. 

According to police, the women hailed Awel's taxi at 3:30 a.m. in Washington D.C., and asked to be taken to a home on Nassau Drive in Woodbridge, Virginia. 

When they arrived, police say Awel and the women got into a dispute about the fare. When the women said they could not pay, Awel allegedly locked them inside the car and drove away. 

Police say Awel refused to stop. 

At one point, one of the victims got in touch with another family member who followed the taxi in another vehicle. 

Ten minutes later, the victims were able to unlock one of the back doors, and all three jumped from the taxi while it was moving. The women then got into the family member's car and continued to follow Awel's taxi until it stopped at a nearby business. 

Officers were called to the business, and Awel was arrested. He is being held without bond and will appear in court on June 13. 

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