Cabbie becomes unwitting driver for alleged bank robber on the run

A southwest Florida cabbie had a very unusual Monday when he unwittingly became the driver of an accused bank robber.

As reported by WFTX Fox 4, Robert Souza, 36, allegedly robbed BB&T bankin Bonita Springs, Florida on Monday morning. The News-Press reports that bank employees described the suspect as “a white, bearded man.” Witnesses at the trailer park where Souza lives told deputies that they saw the suspect with a beard in the morning, and then later leave his trailer clean-shaven. Another witness said he heard Souza call a taxi service to meet him at the Publix Super Market.

That cabbie, who wanted to keep his identity concealed, spoke to WFTX. "Believe me, [Souza] came as a normal person with a bag on his back. He jumped in the car and that's it," said the driver. It was about an hour after the robbery occurred and deputies were actively searching for Souza. The cabbie drove for about two minutes before authorities stopped the car. "That was make my heart jumping," the driver said. "Believe me, he was calm, he was calm inside the car. And then even when the police get in, get surround him, I didn't see him do any movement."

When they pulled over into a shopping center, deputies noticed a lingering smell of aftershave and several unshaven patches of hair around the passenger’s ears and neck. Souza had a beard in his driver’s license photo and he resembled the suspect in surveillance video of the bank robbery. Deputies arrested Souza, who is now in Lee County jail charged with robbery and violating probation.

Video and more info: WFTX, The News-Press