Police: Driver of ‘bandit’ cab at JWA pulls knife on worker who criticized his driving

A man who authorities say was driving an unlicensed “bandit” cab was arrested Tuesday night at John Wayne Airport on suspicion of pulling a knife on someone who confronted him about his driving, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

A rental car service employee saw a cab driver cut off another cab near the airport’s taxi lot around 9 p.m., authorities said. The employee told the driver to be more careful, a sheriff’s official said.

The driver responded by pointing a knife with a 4-inch blade at the employee and threatening to cut him, sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock said.

When the driver saw sheriff’s deputies nearby, he ran toward Campus Drive and MacArthur Boulevard, according to authorities.

Michael Grosso, 35, was taken into custody. Hallock said sheriff’s officials believe he was driving an unlicensed and unregulated vehicle known as a bandit cab.

Deputies searched the cab and found two knives and a pellet rifle, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Grosso was booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and is being held with bail set at $150,000, Hallock said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck