Hawks' Kane arrested for robbing, assaulting cab driver

[Malibook]

Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane and his cousin were arrested early Sunday morning for assaulting and robbing a cab driver in Buffalo, according to several news sources in that city.

According to a police report, the 20-year-old Kane and his cousin James M. Kane, 21, were arrested around 5am et after allegedly punching the cabbie after he said he did not have proper change for their trip fare.

The report says the cab fare was $13.80 and the Kanes handed the driver $15. He claims he had only $1 change and was not in possession of another twenty cents to give back. According to the police report, both Kanes took their money back and punched the cabbie in the face and head.

Both men have been charged with second-degree robbery, fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services.

The NHL is working with the local police department in trying to assemble the details.

Kane, a Buffalo native, had attended a press conference with the mayor to announce funding for a local rink earlier in the evening.

WGRZ.com says the driver appeared to have suffered cuts to his face as well as damage to his glasses.

Buffalo's WIVB is reporting that an attorney for the Kanes has entered a plea of not guilty in City court.

http://www.tsn.ca/ctvnews/?id=287230

 

[phail]

Crazy. What idiots.

 

[BallzDeep]

Robbery isn't your lame mindemeanor, felony isn't it, I'm not too familiar with us law, this could be serious and I hope they get the book thrown at them.

 

[the_big_E]

Over .20 cents essentially?! Wow, that is terribly dumb...I guess it makes some sense, he is from Buffalo afterall.

 

[spankingman]

All the money he makes as a NHL player and he is POd about 20 cents????

Im sure booze was a factor as well but Im sure the Hawks brass will circle the wagons around him. He will pay a fine put on a hockey clinic for inner city kids make a public statement aka apology and that will be it.


STUPID STUPID STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[pencilneckgeek2]

Hope he likes the US cause he might be there for a while JAIL! but Im sure the Sabres brass will circle the wagons around him.

He is an American, I suspect he does like the U.S., but hey, to each their own.

I am curious as to why you would think the Sabres brass would circle the wagons?

He was drafted by, and plays for the Chicago Blackhawks .

 

[Lapper]

lmao. i guess that frees up some cap space for the hawks.

 

[SkyRider]

How many NHL hockey players have NOT been arrested or killed in road accidents?

 

[Malibook]

I saw the driver on TV and apparently they took the $15 back and stole $100 from him as well.


Patrick Kane, the National Hockey League's top rookie in 2008, was arrested early yesterday for assaulting and robbing a cab driver in his hometown of Buffalo. And it was apparently over a couple of dimes.

Buffalo police said 20-year-old Kane, a Chicago Blackhawks forward, and his 21-year-old cousin, James Kane, took a cab from a downtown entertainment district to a residence around 4 a.m.

The cab driver, who identified himself only as J.R., told WIVB News that Patrick Kane grabbed him by the throat when he said he didn't have enough change.

"I said, `I don't have the change.' The one Kane's choking me and the other one's punching me," said the driver. "(He said): `Don't you know who I am? Don't you know who I am? You're messing with the wrong people.'"

The driver told the TV station neighbours heard the incident and recognized the player. The residence in question does not appear to belong to either of the cousins, said Mike DeGeorge of the Buffalo police.

According to local media, the 62-year-old driver charged the Kanes $13.80 for the ride and the men gave him $15. When the driver said he could return only a dollar in change, there was an altercation over the remaining 20 cents.

Police say the Kanes took their money back and the driver, an independent operator from Buffalo, was struck in the face and head. DeGeorge said the driver had cuts, bruising and swelling on his face and head.

The Kanes were arrested shortly after the incident and were both charged with criminal mischief, theft of services and robbery in the second degree. They are pleading not guilty, their lawyer said.

Blackhawks spokesperson Brandon Faber said in an email to the Star, "(Kane) is a big part of our organization and a team leader and we stand behind him. As we are still collecting all the , it would be premature to comment further at this time."

Kane, who scored 46 goals and had 96 assists in his first two NHL seasons, was Chicago's first-round pick and first overall choice in the 2007 draft. His salary last season was just under $950,000.

In 2008 he received the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL's best rookie.

Kane was named Ontario Hockey League rookie of the year in 2006-7 after scoring 62 goals and 83 assists for the London Knights. His point total was the highest in the league that season.

Kane is one of several promising young players to have run into trouble with police. In 1999, Mark Bell was also involved in a physical altercation with a cab driver, in Ottawa. Bell served community time and the assault charges were dropped. He was later arrested on drunk driving and hit-and-run charges in the U.S., and pleaded no contest.

In 2007, the Florida Panthers' Jay Bouwmeester pleaded guilty in Edmonton to a charge of impaired driving. He had his licence suspended and given a $1,000 fine.

Also in 2007, the Carolina Hurricanes' Eric Staal and his brother, the Pittsburgh Penguins' Jordan Staal, were among 14 people arrested and charged with disorderly conduct after a party at a Minnesota resort.

http://www.thestar.com/News/World/article/678721

 

[lawyerman]

Very disappointing. I am curious to hear PK's side of the story though.

 

[Insidious Von]

Just another brainless athlete at play, what else is new. Propaganda states that athletes are pillars of society we must cater to them and genuflect in their presence.

...or so Patrick Kane believed.

 

[Malibook]

The city cab driver who has accused National Hockey League star Patrick Kane and his cousin of robbing and attacking him Sunday morning has two drunken driving convictions and had no valid driver's license at the time of the incident, The Buffalo News has learned.

The cab driver deserves to be charged with driving without a licence.
He does not deserve to be robbed and assaulted by a couple of disgraceful punks.
Someone being on the road illegally does not mean that it is open season on them to be attacked.
I really don't see how this has anything to do with the charges against the Kanes.
It would be like justifying despicable crimes against illegal immigrants because they shouldn't have been here.

 

[shack]

I really don't see how this has anything to do with the charges against the Kanes.

No, but it could partially explain why the cabbie's lawyer is playing down the case.

 

[Meister]

I read in another article that Patrick got the cab in the Buffalo entertainment and nightclub district.

What's most interesting about this story is that Buffalo has an entertainment and nightclub district.

I thought Buffalos entertainment is the Anchor Bar.

 

[Malibook]

No, but it could partially explain why the cabbie's lawyer is playing down the case.

I think he is playing down the incident so that the prosecutors will be more likely to let them do an out of court cash settlement.


Hockey's budding superstar – the face of the sport in Chicago these days – must appear in a Buffalo court again next Monday to face charges of felony robbery and misdemeanour counts of theft of services and criminal mischief instead of attending the opening day of Team USA's Olympic training camp.
http://www.thestar.com/hockey/nhl/article/679182

 

[SkyRider]

Rob Ramage Killed somebody , 1985 Craig MacTavish killed somebody drunk , and Heatly killed somebody sober ... Mark Bell During the 2006 Labour Day weekend, Bell was arrested in Milpitas, California, near the San Jose area, for a hit and run and driving under the influence.

And then there are the hockey players who killed themselves. Tim Horton, Pelle Lindburg, Michel Briere, that guy on the motorcycle last year, etc., etc.

 

[Bopper2]

As a Buffalo native and connoiseur of Buffalo jokes, I am disappointed in this thread. Over 21 posts and only 2 shots at Buffalo, and nothing original in either of those.
I'd help you guys out, but I'm late for bowling.

 

[Meister]

As a Buffalo native and connoiseur of Buffalo jokes, I am disappointed in this thread. Over 21 posts and only 2 shots at Buffalo, and nothing original in either of those.
I'd help you guys out, but I'm late for bowling.

lol, 3rd shot

 

[Bopper2]

What

You never heard of summer leagues?

 

[johnhenrygalt]

And then there are the hockey players who killed themselves. Tim Horton, Pelle Lindburg, Michel Briere, that guy on the motorcycle last year, etc., etc.

So there are a handful of these incidents out of the thousands who have played NHL hockey over the years.

If any of you took your high school year books and take the first 1000 on the the list, I'd bet there are dozens who have been arrested doing something stupid or have killed themselves or someone else doing something stupid.

Hockey players aren't better or worse behaved in general than the population at large.