Taxi Driver Indicted For Attemped Kidnapping And Assault

By Idy Perl

District Attorney Tom Walsh announces that the Grand Jury of Rockland County has voted an indictment against Kevin Mazariego-Figueroa, 22, of Hillcrest, the driver in the recent taxi incident in Spring Valley. The driver was charged with Kidnapping in the Second Degree, Attempted Assault in the First Degree (two counts), Strangulation in the Second Degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree (two counts) and Driving While Ability Impaired by Drugs and Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree.

On May 5th the defendant, while operating a taxicab, picked up a female passenger from 59 Route 59 in Monsey, NY. The defendant proceeded to drive towards the requested destination, but then stopped near 23 Ridge Avenue in Spring Valley. He proceeded to restrain the female passenger and physically assault her while still in the taxicab. Mazariego-Figueroa punched her, strangled her with his hands and bit her face and head. He threatened to kill her while holding a knife and attempted to stab her with a screwdriver. The female was able to free herself from the taxicab and called out for help. The driver then fled in the vehicle and was subsequently located near 681 Chestnut Ridge Road, where he crashed into a gate. 

The investigation determined that Mazariego-Figueroa was operating the taxicab while under the influence and while his driving license was suspended in New York. The victim, a 40-year-old female suffered substantial pain, bite marks, lacerations and visible swelling to her face. She was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

The incident was investigated by the Village of Spring Valley Police Department with assistance from the Town of Ramapo Police Department and the Rockland County Sheriff’s Department Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The defendant faces a minimum of 5 years and a maximum of 25 years in state prison if convicted of the top count of the indictment charging him with Kidnapping in the Second Degree.