A 25-year-old man is behind bars after he allegedly carjacked a taxi cab and kidnapped a 16-year-old passenger.
According to Largo Police Department, on July 30 at approximately 11:23 p.m., Jose Ramirez and a 16-year-old were both inside of a hired taxi cab in Largo when Ramirez became upset, grabbed the taxi driver by the throat and forced him out of the cab.
The taxi driver was left at Fulton Street and East Bay Drive as Ramirez drove off in the cab with the 16-year-old still in the vehicle.
Police say the 16-year-old asked to get out of the cab but Ramirez wouldn't let him. Police located the cab and pulled the car over. Ramirez reportedly tried to flee from the cab as soon as he was pulled over and he also took money from the cab during the carjacking. The victim said he was scared and he tried to tell Ramirez to stop multiple times.
Ramirez was arrested at 11:48 p.m. and he was booked on July 31 at 1:47 a.m. at the Pinellas County Jail.
He is facing charges of carjacking with no weapon ($50,000 bond), and kidnapping to commit a felony ($150,000 bond).
