Crime & Safety

DA: Bronx Parolee Indicted for Kidnapping, Robbery in Wild Ride at Gunpoint

The Bronx man who allegedly robbed and kidnapped a livery cab driver at gunpoint in a journey that ended when the victim freed himself from a car trunk in Tarrytown, has been indicted on six felony charges in Westchester County Court.

Tarrytown police responded to 911 call on Sept. 19 from a driver who had been flagged down by a man who said he just escaped abduction. Police were able to catch the suspect driving nearby on Neperan Road near the Park and Ride lot.

More details of the men's journey were revealed today in a press release from District Attorney Janet DiFiore’s office. The day began at 10:45 a.m. when Robert Mizell, 27, of Beach Avenue in the Bronx, entered the DAT car service office at Sound Shore Avenue in the Bronx and requested a car to take him to 142nd Street and Amsterdam Avenue in the Bronx. 

Find out what's happening in Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The driver said it would be $15; Mizell paid $20 and was given $5 cash back. The ride began, but the driver apparently started driving north toward Westchester County instead of south to Manhattan.

Mizell asked if the driver knew where they going and then allegedly pulled out a .38 caliber revolver and told the driver they would now be going to Albany.

Find out what's happening in Tarrytown-Sleepy Hollowwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The driver continued into Westchester. Mizell reportedly told him if he did anything “stupid” he would shoot him. Mizell also demanded he disable the video surveillance in the cab.

The victim was then forced at gunpoint to give up his cell phone and money. He handed over an iPhone and $125, which Mizell was found to have on him when he was arrested, along with a loaded and operating .38 caliber revolver.

Mizell asked the man to pull over at Exit 21 off the Saw Mill River Parkway. Then he directed him to use Exit 23 instead, bringing them to a Greenburgh parking lot, where he allegedly ordered the victim into the trunk at gunpoint. 

Mizell drove off, but around Neperan and Tower Hill Road in Tarrytown, the man stowed in the trunk was able to jump out. DiFiore said he fractured his ankle from the fall, and has suffered complications from the surgery that followed.

Mizell was found to be on parole already. “In addition to being a state parole absconder, he is also on Federal parole,” DiFiore said.

According to an article in LoHud.com, Mizell had served eight years in jail for a robbery conviction, he was mentally ill and had a drug problem. In information LoHud gained from court documents, he was reportedly high on PCP-laced marijuana during this incident and had large amounts of cash already on him when he turned on the cab driver.

Mizell faces charges of:

• one count of Kidnapping in the Second Degree, a class “B” Felony,

• one count of Robbery in the First Degree, a class “B” Felony,

• one count of Robbery in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,

• one count of Criminal Possession of Weapon in the Second Degree, a class “C” Felony,

• one count of Assault in the Second Degree, a class “D” Felony,

• and one count of Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a class “E” Felony.

Mizell's next court date is scheduled for Dec. 3. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison.

Note: An arrest does not indicate a conviction.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.