Previously: Arrest Made In Castro Cabbie Stabbing
San Francisco prosecutors today charged a 26-year-old Pittsburg man with attempted murder, assault and robbery for allegedly viciously stabbing a taxi driver near the city’s Castro District on Monday.
Bruce Lee Griffin is accused of repeatedly stabbing the 53-year-old cab driver in the chest and head before making off with some of his cash at about 7 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of States Street.
Several witnesses came to the driver’s aid and provided information to police about the attack. In addition, Griffin left his cell phone at the scene, district attorney’s office spokesman Brian Buckelew said.
Police arrested Griffin early Wednesday morning at Post and Larkin streets. The driver is still recovering from the attack but is expected to survive.
Griffin is believed to have flagged down the taxi and asked for a ride to States Street, Buckelew said. He didn’t give a specific address, but told the driver to stop on the street, near Corona Heights Park.
When the driver stopped, Buckelew said, Griffin allegedly brandished a knife and demanded money. As the driver was reaching for the money, Griffin allegedly began stabbing him, Buckelew said.
The driver was able to get out of the taxi, but Griffin allegedly continued the attack, stabbing the driver in the street, Buckelew said.
The stabbing continued even after the driver dropped some of his money in the street, then the attacker scooped up the money and fled on foot, Buckelew said.
Griffin has a prior felony conviction for a 2003 robbery of another cab driver, for which he served two years in prison, according to the district attorney’s office. He was given an additional prison term in 2006 for possession of a controlled substance in prison.
Griffin is scheduled to be arraigned Friday morning on one count of attempted murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of first-degree robbery of a taxi driver.
