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By RICK ROGERS; Times Leader Staff Writer
Tuesday, March 04, 1997 Page: 3A
WILKES-BARRE — Sulaiman Ismail attacked a cab driver and beat a woman
rider unconscious early Sunday morning, said Kingston police.
According to police, Ismail, 24, called a Posten Taxi at about 4 a.m. Once
in the cab, he argued with the cab driver about the fare. Ismail, a martial
arts expert who has won international honors, attacked the driver after the
driver asked him to get out.
A female passenger picked up by the cab driver before stopping for Ismail
attempted to help the driver. Police said Ismail pulled the woman by the hair
over the front seat and into the back seat, dragged her out the passenger door
and smashed her face off the pavement until she lost consciousness.
The attack occurred as the cab driver attempted to drive Ismail to the
Kingston Police Department, police said.
Ismail is the younger brother of NFL wide receivers Raghib “Rocket” Ismail
and Qadry Ismail.
Sulaiman Ismail was released from the Luzerne County Correctional Facility
on Sunday after posting $25,000 bail. He hung up on a reporter who called him
for a response Monday.
According to police and an affidavit of probable cause:
The driver picked up Ismail after the former Meyers High School football
and track star requested a cab to take him from East Vaughn Street to 22
Sullivan St. in Wilkes-Barre at about 4 a.m.
Ismail fled on foot while the cab driver took the female passenger to
Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, Kingston. The woman suffered a concussion, a cut
over her left eye, a broken finger, cuts and bruises. The driver sustained
numerous cuts and bruises. Both were treated and released. Police did not
release the name of either victim.
Police observed Ismail inside a home at the East Vaughn Street address
where the cab picked him up. But Ismail, a 1991 PIAA Class AA State Track and
Field Championships gold medalist in the 200-meter dash, outran the officers.
Ismail was taken into custody on South Thomas Avenue, Kingston, after a
four-hour search by Kingston, Forty Fort and Luzerne police. He was charged
with aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault and one count of
recklessly endangering another person.
Ismail was riding a stolen mountain bike when arrested, police said.
Charges of theft and receiving stolen property stemming from that incident are
pending.
Ismail pleaded guilty in November 1991 to two counts of criminal conspiracy
and theft in the burglary of the Lee Park Deli, Hanover Township.