4th Suspect Charged in Robbery of Cab Driver from Port Chester

An 18-year-old from White Plains has become the fourth suspect accused of robbing and beating a Port Chester cab driver this August in White Plains.

Ja'Sean Houston, of 24 S. Kensico Ave., was arrested on Oct. 3 and charged with first- and second-degree robbery, both felonies. Police say Houston was one of five men who beat and robbed a cab driver on Westmoreland Avenue in White Plains on Aug. 23.

Kevin Doyle, 18, Salvatore Defonce, 18, and Domenick Ricotta, 19, all of Harrison, were arrested the morning of the alleged beating. All three were charged with first-degree robbery, second-degree robbery and fourth-degree conspiracy, all felonies.

The three Harrison men were arrested in Scarsdale after an off-duty fireman followed their vehicle to the corner of Walworth Ave. and Claremont Rd. The firefighter told police he witnessed three males running through a White Plains park at about 7:48 a.m. He told police the three males joined two other males in a 1999 Mitsubishi convertible before driving off at a high rate of speed.

Police say Houston and another suspect ran out of the vehicle the morning of the robbery before police could arrive. Doyle, Defonce and Ricotta remained in the vehicle and were arrested, police say.

White Plains police detectives spotted Houston on Fisher Ave. on Oct. 3, about a week after building enough evidence to arrest him, said White Plains Police Lt. Eric Fisher. A fifth suspect, whom police have identified but are not naming at this time, is still at large.

Fisher said police identified Houston as a suspect "pretty early on", building evidence through "a combination of ways".

Houston is currently being held at Westchester County Jail.

The victim, a 34-year-old male, was treated at an area hospital for a broken nose and swollen and bruised eyes, police say. He was later released.