Man arrested in assault on cabbie

A man was arrested early yesterday after assaulting a taxicab driver and stealing his money in lower Makiki after a “traffic incident,” police said.

The incident occurred about 1:30 a.m. in front of Club Splash on South King Street. Police said that after the 53-year-old taxi driver was blocked from moving, he was assaulted by a 31-year-old Palolo man who reached into the driver’s pants pockets and took cash.

The driver had minor injuries, and could not continue his fare, police said.

The suspect was arrested on charges of second-degree theft, third-degree assault and interfering with operation of a public transit vehicle.