Patrick Kane Arrested: Blackhawks Star Charged In Cab Driver Attack

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane was charged with attacking a cab driver in his hometown Sunday, a beating that police said was triggered when the driver did not have 20 cents in change to give the player and his cousin.

Buffalo police said the 20-year-old Kane and his 21-year-old cousin, James Kane, had apparently caught a cab from the city's downtown nightclub district at about 4 a.m. The cab driver suffered cuts to his face and his glasses were damaged, police spokesman Michael DeGeorge said.

Both men were charged with felony robbery and misdemeanor counts of theft of services and criminal mischief. Patrick Kane pleaded not guilty in City Court on Sunday, WIVB-TV reported. It was not immediately clear when James Kane will appear in court.

The driver said he was punched and hit by both men because he did not have 20 cents in change to give them, according to the police report.

A message left at the home of Patrick Kane's parents was not immediately returned Sunday afternoon. Relatives who answered his grandfather's phone and his mother's cell phone declined to comment and could not say whether either Kane had an attorney.

A Blackhawks spokesman said the team is aware of the allegations against Kane.

"He is a big part of our organization and a team leader and we stand behind him," spokesman Brandon Faber said. "As we are still collecting all the facts, it would be premature to comment further at this time."

On Thursday, Patrick Kane was at a Buffalo ice rink where he played hockey as a child to help Mayor Byron Brown announce funding for improvements.

He said at the time he was happy to have time "to hang out back home in Buffalo."

"The best thing about it is my friends treat me like I'm a regular kid," said Kane, the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL draft. "They don't treat me like a celebrity or whatever they might treat me like in Chicago."

Kane played his first two NHL seasons with the Blackhawks and had 46 goals and 96 assists. He won the Calder Trophy, given to the league's best rookie, in 2008.

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Associated Press writer Sophia Tareen in Chicago contributed to this report.

Comments

[Phillip Hacek]

I doubt the cabbie will want to persue this. I doubt the cabbie will get much money. You guys saying otherwies might want to check unlawful imprisonment up. It's when you knowingly restrain someone... which he openly admits, and his lawyer. Unlawful imprisonment is also a charge that you have to register for the sex offenders in the state of New York... I'm not sure how well the cab company would like a sex offender working for them.

RCW 9A.40.040
Unlawful imprisonment.

(1) A person is guilty of unlawful imprisonment if he knowingly restrains another person.

(2) Unlawful imprisonment is a class C felony.

A. A person commits unlawful imprisonment by knowingly restraining another person.

B. In any prosecution for unlawful imprisonment, it is a defense that:

1. The restraint was accomplished by a peace officer acting in good faith in the lawful performance of his duty; or

2. The defendant is a relative of the person restrained and the defendant's sole intent is to assume lawful custody of that person and the restraint was accomplished without physical injury.

C. Unlawful imprisonment is a class 6 felony unless the victim is released voluntarily by the defendant without physical injury in a safe place prior to arrest in which case it is a class 1 misdemeanor.

[Bude]

Meatball hockey fans!

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=6958549

[Cogs]

I heard Patrick Kane's lawyer this morning on the radio and seem to suggest that the hockey star is distancing himself from his cousin. He also raised questions about the cabdriver's "real motives". The Kane camp realizes that they are facing a PR nightmare. A quick settlement will be offered to the driver and Kane will likley agree to some community service. Blackhawk fans will still support Kane but he is going to be tagged with this incident for the rest of his career. Look for dimes to litter the ice whenever the Hawks play on the road. That becomes a safety issue for all the players.

[noudidnt]

Perhaps it should becom e more difficult for a wh y te guy to get a cab

[Maschine]

Young, wealthy, high, famous - DUMB Move.

[rudolph]

IF true, he's simply behaving off the ice as the little toads are permitted to behave on the ice.

[countfloyd]

Why is it so hard for these athletes to figure out that nothing good happens after 1-2 am.

[proudloudlib]

'Roid rage.

[CR46]

Thats where I would place my bet on

[Seepaz]

Looks like the Cabbie's Lawyer already got paid by the Blackhawks or maybe Kane's Lawyer. Anyway, I heard this Cabbie will soon be a "Limo" Driver.

[Paladine]

Sounds like alcohol induced...read about the old "OCathians (Kanes) from Ireland...great warriors...rich Family history...every Kane, O'Kane I ever knew, fought when drunk! I was married to one...I love them all...:) love the Irish! I'm very biased on this topic...

[steve12]

Let's wait for all the facts to come in before we totally condemn these guys. It just doesn't make a lot of sense for a highly paid hockey star, or anyone for that matter, to beat a taxi driver up over 20 cents. Something is missing here...at least I hope so.

[fcsakes]

It doesn't have to make sense, it's called hubris.

No doubt accompanied by a lot of booze.

[madisonhack]

Are you implying that the cabbie had it coming? Just say so.

[Gordo10]

i gonna keep saying it .. If he was African American ESPN would be all over his case along with the white control media

[Wood]

That's what people don't get when Gates vs Crowley is mentioned...

[tantrictim]

when was the last time you saw a brotha' in an NHL uniform?
:)

[teaserpony]

I remember my first beer...

[WTEffington]

Save it for the ice.

[kndam72]

lets just wait and see for the whole story to come out before crucifying this guy ans an example of "crazy athletes". Celeb, athlete, politician or other entitled folks or not, you don't beat up a guy for lacking 20cents after probably laying out thousands at the clubs hours ago.

not even a homeless guy gets into a fight for 20cents.

I'm sue that the cabbie will be seeking 6 figure damages from kane whether or not he provoked, instigated or was an equally guilty party in the incident.