Managua Taxi Mis-adventure

This is related to this blog entry which is also well worth reading. This message was posted to the Casa Ben Linder list. I felt it deserved to be shared here as well.

I was returning home from a Capoeira class at the Gimnasio Illusiones, it was a little after 9pm. I got into a taxi across from La Union on Carratera a Masaya. I´ve taken hundreds of taxis in Managua, I always check the plates and get a general feel of how the driver acts. In this situation everything seemed normal I got a reasonable price to where I was going and the taxi was empty. Once I got in, I started chatting with the driver, like I sometimes do, and there was nothing unusual.

Then, the taxi stopped at Metrocentro, and two men got in after asking to go to an address in Monseñor lescano, which happened to be on the way to my address. The taxi then started to drive really fast, I started to have some concern, but then again the majority of taxis in Managua drive a little crazy. The taxi stopped at the light by the TransNica bus station and then the guy in the back seat hit me in the face, I was stunned for a second and then I realized what was happening and I reached for the door, but of course the door on my side didn´t work, like many taxis. I grabbed for my cell phone but by this time the guy from the front seat had jumped into the back seat. They both grabbed me and threatened me. I felt a knife on my side, I immediately told them to take everything I had. Then they told me to give them my PIN for my debit card that I had on me. I gave it to them. during this time they had my face covered and shoved me down toward the floor of the taxi. Soon one guy got out, and the taxi drove on. The guy who had me held with the knife in the back seat called the other guy to see if he got money out, after asking me how much money was in the account. We kept driving, and I kept asking them to let me out, they have what they want, please let me go. I was in the taxi for probably close to 35 min.

Then the guy cut my shirt with his knife and used it to tie my hands behind my back and a section over my eyes. Then he pushed me out of the taxi. I was on a street, I had no idea where I was, but I was able to move the eye cover a little to see some light. I walked toward some night watch people and they helped untie me. I found myself in Mercado Oriental 2 near linda vista. The *vigilantes *said they saw the taxi, a white Hyundai, but they it turned the corner real fast and couldn´t see the plate, and I was dropped in a dark section of the road. I didn´t realize my arm was cut and bloody until they untied me.

A couple leaving the theatre there helped me, and took me to the police station in linda vista. One of them was a volunteer firefighter and he bandaged up my arm. I finally was able to call my girlfriend after nobody had any *saldo* on their cell phones, even the police officers. My girlfriend came and then we were taken to *distrito* 4 in mercado oriental, because supposedly that´s where the assault started. Anyway, I did the *denuncio*, and we were told we could go, but by this time it was midnight and we where right in the most dangerous market. The police told us they weren´t a taxi service, and they didn´t offer to escort us out of the market area to get a taxi either. Finally we got a hold of my girlfriends cousin and she came to get us.

I got one stitch in my arm, and I was bruised and sore for a week. I only took buses for about a week after.

Looking back, I´m glad I cooperated with the men, obviously. They were able to get $100 of my account, thanks to the withdrawal limit, and some cordobas. Plus my drivers license, watch and cell phone.

I couldn´t remember the plate number on the taxi. The taxi driver I´m sure was in on it, as he never said anything during the whole thing. Though the subjects made it seem like he wasn´t involved, shouting at him where to turn the whole time.

I guess this is another warning for keeping yourself safe. I try not to take taxis alone at night, and I now call someone on my phone once I´m in the taxi. Another option is to tell the driver not to pick anyone else up, and pay a little more.

I proceeded in a long and frustrating process with the inept police at *distrito* 4. After lots of bureaucracy and lack of interest on the police´s part, I was able to go with the police to the BAC headquarters and see the video of the guy who used my card. The BAC security already had the guy identified, because he came up in other cases that they had seen. Plus he as part of a band of taxis that was busted back in 2004. So the BAC security told the police officer what she should do, they have all the information.

After this meeting I never heard from the police officer who was "working" on my case. I don´t know if they did anything, I doubt it now after hearing about the continued assaults that have been going on in Managua recently.

I´m fully recovered now, although the images are still in my head, and I´m a little paranoid about taxis now.

Thanks for reading my story. Be safe.

Muchos Saludos,

Jeremy Harrison-Smith