CHICAGO — A late-night taxi ride turned into a violent downtown nightmare Friday when a 43-year-old Maywood man allegedly carjacked a cab, ran over the driver, and fought police officers during his arrest, according to authorities.
The incident began just before midnight near Madison and Wabash, where police say Maurice McDowell forcibly pulled a 36-year-old taxi driver out of his vehicle and then ran him over with the stolen cab. The driver was left seriously injured and was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for treatment.
Crash, Assault, and Escalation
After striking the driver, McDowell reportedly crashed the cab a short distance away, then turned his violence toward a 45-year-old woman, allegedly punching her in the face on the street.
Chicago police officers responding to the scene located McDowell nearby, where he was allegedly blocking the roadway. When officers attempted to arrest him, he resisted violently, battered officers, and required forceful restraint before being taken into custody.
Felony Charges Filed
Authorities have filed a long list of charges against McDowell, including:
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Attempted First-Degree Murder
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Vehicular Hijacking
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Aggravated Battery to a Peace Officer
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Three Misdemeanor Counts of Resisting Arrest
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Misdemeanor Assault
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Misdemeanor Battery
Court records also show that McDowell had two active warrants at the time of the attack — one for misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession, and another for failure to appear in court on charges related to driving on a revoked license following a personal injury crash.
Upcoming Court Appearance
McDowell is expected to appear for a detention hearing on Monday at 26th and California, where a judge will determine whether he should remain in custody pending trial.
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