Carjacking Suspect Seen In Video Clinging To Side Of Cab Appears In Court
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A man who allegedly tried to carjack a taxi and then hung on to the outside of the cab for miles as it sped down the Bruckner Expressway faced a judge Tuesday.
Matthew McCorkle, 26, of the Bronx, faces more than a dozen serious charges, including DUI, grand larceny and reckless driving.
Police say McCorkle tried to carjack Mohammed Millogo's taxi on the expressway at 138th Street around 2 a.m. Monday, but Millogo hit the gas.
"I was caring if he has a knife or if he has a gun," Millogo said. "He tried to hit my window with his elbow. Then he tried to break in and get in the car, and he told me to open the door and I said, 'No, I cannot open the door for you.'"
CBS 2 obtained exclusive video from a fellow driver as Millogo drove down the Bruckner Expressway.
In the video, you can see McCorkle hang on the side of the vehicle and struggle to stay on the cab's running boards. He slips and almost loses his grip, but manages to stay on.
"I was scared in the moment," Millogo told CBS 2's Kathryn Brown. "I was going to the left, to the right, for him to release my car."
McCorkle admitted to mixing an illegal cocktail of drugs before taking the wild ride, police told CBS 2's Kathryn Brown.
In court Tuesday, prosecutors called McCorkle's actions a reckless crime spree, Brown reported. The suspect said very little before a judge, but as he was led away in handcuffs, he shouted "I love you" to his family."
McCorkle's mother and other relatives were emotional, but refused to speak to reporters after his arraignment.
A judge ordered McCorkle held on $200,000 bond.
Vlane Carter shot the cellphone video from a nearby car.
"I was really getting nervous because the guy was on the hood at the time, then he was on the back, and then he was trying to break the glass with his hand and the car was swerving," Carter said. "I noticed the guy, like, kicking the window. He almost fell a couple of times."
Millogo said he was concerned about his own safety.
"If I stop the car, this guy tried to get in my car," Millogo said. "If he gets in my car or if this guy tried to, I don't know what he can have. He can have a weapon, he can have a knife -- anything can happen to me. My safety first."
The victim, however, said he forgives McCorkle.
"I will never forget," Millogo said. "I'm glad this guy is still alive."
The suspect held on for eight miles until the cab hit a traffic jam on the New England Thruway. That's when police said he jumped off the cab, pulled a 61-year-old male driver out of another car and drove off.
Police finally caught up with him when he crashed into a truck.
McCorkle has a long rap sheet that includes criminal possession of a stolen weapon, driving with a suspended license, and drug violations, CBS 2 reported.
Just last month, he was arrested and accused of menacing and harassing a woman, authorities said.
An alleged carjacking suspect is expected to be arraigned Tuesday after he was caught on camera clinging to the side of a taxi while it sped down the Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx.
Police said 26-year-old Matthew McCorkle of the Bronx is charged with driving while intoxicated, robbery and grand larceny.
The incident happened around 2 a.m. Monday.
Police said McCorkle allegedly tried to carjack Mohammed Millogo's taxi on the expressway at 138th Street, but Millogo hit the gas.
"I was caring if he has a knife or if he has a gun," Millogo said. "He tried to hit my window with his elbow then he tried to break in and get in the car and he told me to open the door and I said, 'No, I cannot open the door for you.'"
CBS 2 obtained exclusive video from a fellow driver as Millogo drove down the Bruckner Expressway.
In the video, you can see McCorkle hang on the side of the vehicle and struggle to stay on the cab's running boards. He slips and almost loses his grip, but manages to stay on.
"I called the police and even I slowed down for him because I don't want him to get hurt," Millogo said.
Vlane Carter shot the cell phone video from a nearby car.
"I was really getting nervous because the guy was on the hood at the time, then he was on the back and then he was trying to break the glass with his hand and the car was swerving," Carter said. "I noticed the guy, like, kicking the window; he almost fell a couple of times."
Millogo said he was concerned about his own safety.
"If I stop the car, this guy tried to get in my car," Millogo said. "If he gets in my car or if this guy tried to, I don't know what he can have. He can have a weapon, he can have a knife -- anything can happen to me. My safety first."
The suspect held on for eight miles until the cab hit a traffic jam on the New England Thruway. That's when police said he jumped off the cab, pulled a driver out of another car and drove off.
Police finally caught up with him when he crashed.
McCorkle has a long rap sheet that includes criminal possession of a stolen weapon, driving with a suspended license, and drug violations, CBS 2 reported.
Just last month, he was arrested and accused of menacing and harassing a woman, authorities said.
Check Out These Other Stories From CBSNewYork.com: