Driver caught on camera dragging elderly woman from taxi

NEW YORK ā€“ A cab driver in New York City was caught on camera dragging an elderly woman out of his car this week.

A man who just happened to be walking by Wednesday afternoon pulled out his phone and started recording as the 78-year-old woman was forcefully pulled from the car by the driver.

As soon as he approaches, the woman is heard screaming, ā€œCall the police!ā€

The video shows the woman hitting the driver with her cane.

Ezra Halawani, 35, is then seen confronting the man. He manages to get him to turn over the womanā€™s phone.

But shortly after that, the cab driver gets back in the car and takes off, hitting Halawani in the process, police said.

ā€œAre you OK?ā€ Halawani asked the victim.

ā€œNo Iā€™m not!ā€ she responded. ā€œIā€™m a 78-year-old lady and he pulled me out of the cab! He took my money! He took my phone!ā€

ā€œNo, I have your phone. I took your phone back,ā€ Halawani said.

The New York Taxi and Limousine Commission is working with the New York Police Department in the investigation.

ā€œI just couldnā€™t believe that someone could do something like that to -- forget just an old woman -- just any person in general,ā€ Halawani said.

The state Federation of Taxi Drivers released a statement, saying the driverā€™s actions were totally unjustified.