Published: July 06, 2008 10:28 pm      

Johnstown ‘cabbie’ facing charges

Johnstown’s renegade cabbie is in trouble again.

Daniel J. Applegate, 52, of the 1200 block of Frankstown Road is accused of falsifying insurance documents for one of his vehicles.

Investigators from the state Attorney General’s Office, insurance fraud section, checked up on Applegate when he filed an accident claim for a 2007 accident, according to court papers.

Applegate bought insurance in March on the 1993 GEO Metro in Alpena, Mich., using an Alpena address, the report says.

He told the insurance company he used the car only for pleasure, not for business.

Working with Johnstown police detectives, the state investigator, James Kopera, called Applegate at the number advertised on his cars. He arranged for Applegate to pick him up in Johnstown and drive him to the airport.

When they arrived at the airport, the investigator asked Applegate if $20 was enough, and Applegate told him to leave the money on the seat, the court papers say.

Interviewed later by investigators, Applegate told them he never takes money “hand-to-hand,” but “if they leave money on the car seat, that’s up to them.”

In addition, Applegate is on probation for operating an illegal taxi service and is not permitted to leave the state without permission.

Applegate is charged with filing an insurance application with false or misleading information – a misdemeanor.

He was arraigned by District Judge Rick Varner and released on $50,000 unsecured bond.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 30.