Katie Park

Asbury Park Press

BRADLEY BEACH - "I don't pay non-Americans," a 36-year-old Jackson man allegedly told a cab driver, after refusing to pay the $12 fare and punching the worker in the face, according to a criminal complaint.

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Kevin S. Tague, of Abbey Road in Jackson, was charged Sunday by Bradley Beach police with second-degree robbery and theft of services, according to the complaint.

"He's okay," Sefik Demir, the owner of Homestead Taxi, said about his employee, who was identified in the complaint as "B.D." "He's upset, stressed, but he's all right."

The complaint additionally alleged Tague, who ordered a ride to Bradley Beach, shoved the driver in the chest, causing the worker to fall back into the taxi. The altercation reportedly began when Tague got into a verbal dispute with the driver, according to the complaint.

Homestead Taxi is based in Spring Lake and services Monmouth and Ocean counties.

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Katie Park: 908-801-4853; kpark@gannettnj.com