A taxi driver is facing abduction charges after allegedly holding three women in the back of his taxi when they were unable to pay the fare, leading the victims to jump from the moving vehicle, Prince William police spokesperson Officer Nathan Probus said Monday.
Muzemil Denbel Awel, 30, of the 5040 block of Bradley Boulevard in Chevy Chase, Maryland, is charged with three counts of abduction.
The Woodbridge women, ages 22, 29 and 32, reported taking a ride in Awel’s taxi Saturday morning from Washington, D.C., to a home in the 13200 block of Nassau Drive.
“When the taxi arrived at the victims’ destination, there was a verbal dispute concerning the taxi fare between the victims and the taxi driver,” Probus said. “When the victims stated they could not pay the fare, the accused locked the car doors and drove away from the destination with the victims still inside of the taxi.”
When Awel refused to stop, one of the victims contacted a family member, who began following the taxi in another vehicle.
“Approximately 10 minutes later, the victims were able to unlock one of the rear doors and jump from the taxi as it was moving,” Probus said.
The victims followed Awel until he stopped in the 13600 block of Mapledale Avenue, where police arrived. No injuries were reported.
Awel is being held without bond. His court date is July 13.