Police: USS Stennis sailor tried to strangle cab driver with legs

BREMERTON, Washington — A sailor aboard the USS Stennis is under arrest after police said he tried to strangle a cab driver, with his legs, from the back seat of a taxi.

The Bremerton Police Department said the 21-year-old sailor was picked by a driver with the On Your Way taxi company at about 12:45 a.m. Friday at a bar in East Bremerton. Police Sergeant Kevin Crane told KIRO 7 the sailor was intoxicated and was being taken by cab back to the naval base.

As the taxi began to move, the sailor positioned himself behind the driver and wrapped his legs around the man's throat in an attempt to strangle him, Crane said. The driver struggled with the man and tried to bring the cab to a stop. Crane said the sailor then removed his legs from around the driver's throat, and grabbed him with his arms, continuing the assault.

A police officer from the Puget Sound Naval Ship Yard who happened to be off base spotted the cab stopped in the middle of traffic, and pulled over to check out the situation. Crane said the officer called for help and stopped the assault on the driver.

The sailor was taken into custody, but continued to fight with police, kicking and screaming after being placed into a Bremerton police patrol car to be transported to jail, Crane said. The sailor was arrested on assault charges.

The driver suffered some bruises and scrapes to his throat, but did not require medical treatment. Crane said it is not clear why the sailor attacked the cab driver.

KIRO