N.Y. Man Charged With Trying to Strangle Cabbie

A New York City man was arrested early Friday morning after he allegedly tried to strangle the taxi driver giving him and his wife a ride back to their motel in Danvers.

Brian Dowdall, 41, of New York, N.Y., was taken into custody by Danvers police at approximately 1:19 a.m. and charged with disorderly conduct and assault and battery, according to a police log entry.

The Salem News reports Dowdall was arraigned in Salem District Court later that day and police say Dowdall and his wife had several drinks at a Salem restaurant Halloween night and hailed a taxi back to Motel 6 in Danvers.

As they were passing by the Gulf Express station on Route 114, Dowdall asked the driver to stop so he could use the bathroom, reports the paper. The cabbie declined since they were so close to the motel.

Dowdall, who was described as "highly intoxicated," then allegedly tried to strangle the cabbie, reports the Salem News. Dowdall claimed the cabbie was making remarks about his wife.

Police said Dowdall's wife, a 33-year-old New York woman who was also intoxicated, was placed in protective custody.