KOSCIUSKO — A Goshen man was recently arrested after police say he strangled his taxicab driver to the point that she lost consciousness. The man blew a .226 on a portable breath test.

Marco Antonio Diaz

Marco Antonio Diaz, 22, 116 Huron St., Goshen, is being charged with battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 5 felony, and strangulation, a level 6 felony.

On Sept. 2, an officer with the Warsaw Police Department responded to a reported stabbing on Detroit Street. When the officer arrived at the scene he spoke with a female taxicab driver who was clutching her neck. The female told the officer she works for Fast Cab and was transporting a male subject, identified as Diaz.

According to the female, Diaz was riding in the front passenger seat when he reached over and grabbed the female by her neck until she passed out. The female victim told the officer that when she regained consciousness, Diaz was gone and her vehicle was “rolling” north on Detroit Street.

Officers spoke with two witnesses. The witnesses told officers that they observed the taxicab driver slouched in the driver’s seat and saw a Hispanic male jump from the passenger side of the vehicle. They watched the male run towards Stella’s Sub Pub as if he was drunk and fall to the ground. Two other witnesses shared a similar story with the officers.

An officer located Diaz and took him into custody. Diaz stated he could not remember the incident and provided a portable breath test sample of .226. Officers located a cell phone on the passenger side floor of the taxicab that the driver believes belongs to Diaz.

Diaz was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Sept. 2, with a $11,000 surety and cash bond.