A taxi driver has been questioned by police in relation to sexual harassment after asking a female fare if she wanted to go "all the way to Harlem".
The cabbie, Reg Black, picked up white passenger, 43-year-old Sheila Bloodaxe, at New York's John F. Kennedy Airport on Tuesday. At first, she gave her destination as 'Midtown', but, in the same breath, said "No! Harlem."
Black, looking for clarification, then asked:
"So, Midtown, ma'am, or you wanna go all the way to Harlem?"
Bloodaxe leapt into action:
"Did you say 'all the way'? Are you propositioning me, sir?"
Black winced, and told her he was not. Bloodaxe ordered him:
"Pull over, near that police officer!"
Frightened, Black did as he was told. The white officer listened carefully to the sexual harassment allegation, made notes, and then asked Bloodaxe to hail another cab whilst he completed his investigation. She left, smirking.
Police Officer, Andrew Plodd, told the unlucky cabbie:
"Keep your chit-chat to a minimum in the future. The times, they are a-changing, and not for the better."