Brooklyn Cab Driver Beaten With Surge Protector: VIDEO

By CHRIS NEELY

BED-STUY, BROOKLYN — Police are hunting for the man caught on camera beating a Brooklyn cab driver with a surge protector inside a Bed-Stuy supermarket earlier this week.

Last Wednesday night around 7 p.m., police said, a 36-year-old man driving a livery cab driver picked up his would-be attacker at the corner of Nostrand Avenue and Fulton Street in southern Bed-Stuy.

Upon reaching his destination at Gates and Throop avenues, about one mile northeast, the suspect allegedly exited the cab, approached the driver's window and demanded money.

The suspect then opened the car door, pulled the driver out of the vehicle and punched him in the face several times, police said.

The struggle between the two men eventually spilled into the entrance of the NSA Supermarket at 631 Gates Ave. — where the suspect was caught on security camera striking the victim several times with what appears to be a household surge protector.

Police said the attacker was unable to steal anything from his cabbie before fleeing southbound on Gates Avenue by foot.

The victim, meanwhile, was taken to Kings County Hospital in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

Police described the suspect as a black man last seen wearing a gray sweater, black pants and black shoes.

Cops with the 79th Precinct are urging anyone with information regarding the attempted robbery and assault to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers hotline at 1­-800­-577­-TIPS. Spanish speakers can call 1­-888­-57­-PISTA.

Tips can also be submitted online or by texting 274637, then entering TIP577.