Violent rideshare dispute in Rockland County ends in dramatic arrest on RFK Bridge
Police say Joel A. Guzman, of Brooklyn, faces assault and criminal possession of a weapon charges.
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New York State Police says a rideshare driver allegedly attacked a passenger in Rockland County during an argument over payment. Officers later tracked the driver down about 50 miles away on the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in Manhattan.
Joel A. Guzman, 32, of Brooklyn, was behind the wheel on Wednesday morning when MTA police ordered him out of the car and slowly approached, wielding guns. Two unsuspecting passengers were in the backseat and caught the shocking incident on camera.
Police say the initial attack happened just before 7 a.m. at the Suffern Tandem Lot on the New York State Thruway. Guzman allegedly assaulted the passenger, a 32-year-old man from California, with a knife.
Paramedics took the victim to Good Samaritan Hospital. Police say he suffered defensive lacerations to his arm and is expected to recover.
State police then issued a BOLO - Be On The Lookout - alert for Guzman's vehicle, according to investigators.
MTA officers located Guzman's car just before 8:15 a.m. on the eastbound side of the RFK bridge, West of Exit 46A-Randalls Island. There, Guzman's rideshare passengers began filming as multiple officers approached and took him into custody.
Guzman now faces assault and criminal possession of a weapon charges. He was arraigned in Ramapo Town Court and released on bail. He is expected back in court later this month.
State police say an order of protection was issued for the victim.
