Taxi driver allegedly held woman prisoner for hours, hit golf balls with her locked in cab

BREMERTON -- Police arrested a 44-year-old taxi driver for allegedly keeping a 50-year-old woman in his taxi for several hours against her wishes, locking her in the vehicle while he did chores and even stopped to hit balls at a golf course.

The victim called the taxi driver late Friday night when her car broke down in Kitsap County, Bremerton police said. The taxi driver, who has not yet been charged, dropped the victim off at a motel in Port Orchard at her request, telling her he would pick her up again in the morning to get her car.

Police said the victim called the suspect at 7 a.m. Saturday and she was picked up in the taxi. The victim said she asked the driver to take her to the Jeep dealer in Bremerton, but he instead picked up several fares.

When she protested, the driver allegedly yelled "my stuff first," police said, and continued to drive her around for several hours.

The suspect even went to a golfing range several miles away to hit golf balls, before eventually dropping her off at a Jeep dealership in Bremerton. There, the staff noticed the woman was "terrified," and demanded the taxi driver leave without her, police said. The staff called 911.

According to police, the victim said she told the taxi driver to let her out several times,but felt threatened by the suspect's actions and words. Also, she did not know the area.

Police found the suspect's vehicle and took him into custody. The taxi driver allegedly told officers he was "training her" to drive a taxi. When asked if she asked to be let out, the driver allegedly replied, "a couple of times."

The suspect was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment. He was later released on $25,000 bond.

The suspect's taxi operator certificate has been revoked.

It was not known if the woman was charged for the fare.