Livery Cabbie's Death During Detention Ruled A Homicide
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers has raised new questions about Taxi and Limousine Commission officers, after a livery cabbie died while being detained for allegedly picking up illegal fares at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Luiz Mauro Machado's death was ruled a homicide after the 61-year-old cabbie suffered cardiac arrest while handcuffed.
Federation spokesman Fernando Mateo told 1010 WINS his organization gets complaints every day about the conduct of the officers.
"We believe that Mr. Machado might have been an unlicensed driver. We are not certain of that," Mateo said. "But what we are certain is that the tactics that the TLC is using is causing physical and mental damage to the drivers."
Machado's family was also seeking to why they were not told for 16 hours about the cabbie's death.
The Taxi and Limousine Commission told the New York Daily News that when Machado appeared to be in medical distress, the handcuffs were immediately removed and an ambulance was called.
Machado was driver was the father of NBA basketball player Scott Michael Machado, the newspaper reported.
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