BY: 24/7 CRIME DESK | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A Boca Raton man is facing a fraud charge after police say he jumped out of a taxi cab on Ocean Boulevard in Boca Raton to evade an $80 cab fare. That man, identified as Rodd Marcus, was taken into custody by the Boca Raton Police Department. BocaNewsNow.com obtained the arrest report — the key sections are below:
“On 11/26/2024 I was dispatched to 4001 N Ocean Boulevard, Sea Ranch Club, in reference to taxi fare evasion. Upon arrival I met with the victim, Metro Taxi driver, Gerardo Vargas. Vargas, was dispatched to pick up a fare from the Delray Medical Center located at 5352 Linton Boulevard. The call to Metro Taxi came from hospital staff. Vargas arrived at Delray Medical Center and on his phone, he was to drive the fare fron the hospital to 4001 N Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton. and collect payment at that time. Upon arrival, the fare, Rodd (Vargas only knows as Rodd), told Vargas that his Mon lives here and he would be right back with the payment for the fare. Rodd then jumped out of the taxi and ran away. In a statement on MVR, Vargas waited 45 minutes ‘for Rodd to return with the $38.00 ‘for the fare, but Rodd never returned, therefore the fare at the end was $80.00. Security stated they observed on surveillance camera, Rodd Marcus, who had been trespassed by Officer K Cohen yesterday morning,. walk out from the parking garage (in his Mons building) on the south side of the property. Marcus then exited the property and headed westbound over the bridge on Spanish River Road.”
Police were ultimately tipped to Marcus’ location. An officer found him and made the arrest, as documented in this section of the police report:
“I made contact with Marcus on the beach and had him sit down on a bench. I read him his Miranda Rights from a pre printed card. Marcus advised he understood and began talking. He explained that he walked to his Mons place after being released from Delray Medical Center around 0200 hours. I then told hin the hospital called him a taxi and he knew he needed to have the money to pay for the fare. He stated he did give the driver $30.00. I told him the fare was $80.00 which included the time he left the taxi after saying he was going up to his Mons residence to get the money to pay the fare. He then said but I gave him $30.00 and admitted to not paying the full fare of $80.00. I advised him that he was being placed under arrest for obtaining a vehicle with the intent to defraud per Florida State Statute 817.52(2), He was handcuffed, double locked and Officer Bachar conducted a pat down. I then transported to the Boca Raton Police Department for processing. After completing the processing requirements I transported him to the Palm Beach County Jail and turned over to Deputies.”
Rodd is being held on $5,000 bond, notably $4,920 more than the cab fare he allegedly neglected to pay.
