Teen held after allegedly luring taxi driver into robbery trap

A 16-year-old boy is in police custody after a taxi operator was allegedly ambushed and robbed by two men posing as passengers along the Thompson Pen Road in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

The teenager was arrested by investigators attached to the St Catherine North Police Division in connection with the robbery, while his alleged accomplice remains at large.

Reports are that about 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, the taxi operator was travelling the Spanish Town-Thompson Pen route when two men reportedly flagged down the vehicle.

The men allegedly posed as genuine commuters and asked to be taken to Greendale.

One reportedly sat in the front passenger seat while the other occupied the back seat.

However, upon reaching Thomas Avenue, the passenger in the rear allegedly grabbed the driver's neck and began squeezing it.

The driver was reportedly threatened with being shot while the other man allegedly brandished a knife.

But the driver fought back, managing to disarm the man with the knife before making a desperate escape.

He reportedly pulled off his seat belt and jumped from the moving vehicle, leaving behind his cellular phone and a wallet containing $7,000.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, who launched an investigation that led to the teenager's arrest.

His alleged accomplice remains at large as investigators continue their efforts to identify and apprehend him.

We want to hear from you! Email us at star@gleanerjm.com and follow @thejamaicastar on Instagram and on X @JamaicaStar and on Facebook: @TheJamaicaStar, or on Whatsapp @ 876-550-2506.