Man charged with robbing cab driver in Elgin

A man has been charged with robbing a taxi driver early Friday in northwest suburban Elgin.

Police were called about the robbery at 1:20 a.m. in the 400 block of Wellington Avenue, according to a statement from Elgin police.

The driver was picking up a customer when 35-year-old Robert Ordonez forced his way into the cab’s front seat and demanded money from the driver, police said. A struggle ensued, during which the customer tried to pull Ordonez off the driver and Ordonez punched the customer in the face.

Ordonez then grabbed the driver’s phone and refused to give it back unless she gave him money, according to police. The driver handed over the money and Ordonez returned the phone and ran away.

Officers later found Ordonez at his home in the same block where the robbery occurred, police said. He was arrested and charged with one felony count of robbery and two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery.

He was ordered held on a $50,000 bond at a Friday hearing, according to the Kane County sheriff’s office.