Toledoan is accused in cabbie abduction

9/11/2007

A Toledo man will be arraigned today after being arrested for forcing a cabbie to drive him around Toledo and Maumee, authorities said.

John Francis Rupp, 30, of 3240 West Lincolnshire Blvd., was arrested early yesterday and charged with abduction before being booked into the Lucas County jail pending arraignment today in Toledo Municipal Court.

The cab driver, Donald Pester of North Detroit Avenue, was not hurt, Toledo police said.

About 2:50 a.m. yesterday, Toledo police officers headed for the Anthony Wayne Trail and Glendale Avenue in response to a report of a cab driver being forced to drive around by a man with a gun.

By that time, the cab had been driven into Maumee, at which point Maumee police officers joined the effort to locate the cab.

Police were able to track the cab because it was equipped with a global-positioning device. A short time later, Maumee police spotted it at 1360 Conant St., where Mr. Rupp was arrested without incident, Toledo police said.

Officers did not say whether a weapon actually was used in the alleged abduction or why they think it occurred.