By Adam Nichols
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — An allegedly drunk tourist threw a taxi driver from his yellow cab and took off on a high speed joyride through Manhattan early Sunday, police said.
Californian Michael Findley, 31, hailed the cab at Delancey Street and Bowery at 3 a.m. — then allegedly got into a fight with the driver, police said.
Police said he allegedly punched the cabbie in the face and hauled him out of the cab at Lafayette Street and East Houston Street, then jumped into the driver's seat and took off.
Findley ran a red light and drove the wrong way down a one way street during his 25-minute, high-speed drive through Manhattan, police said.
He was arrested after smashing into a light pole at 14th Street and Union Square. Findley was taken to Bellevue Hospital with head injuries and was described as being in stable condition Sunday afternoon.
The cab driver suffered facial bruising, police said.
Findley was charged with DWI, robbery, grand larceny of an auto and reckless endangerment.
