Saul Vargas, a resident of St. Cloud, Florida, pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge on Thursday after he was recorded jumping on and damaging a taxi in Manhattan during a celebration of the New York Knicks' Game 4 comeback in the NBA Finals on June 11. Vargas was seen shirtless on video smashing the front windshield of the yellow cab as fans gathered near Madison Square Garden.
Vargas stated, "I just want to be 21," as he left a Manhattan courtroom, acknowledging that his actions were irresponsible. He expressed regret to the taxi driver, Noueddine Bitat, saying, "To the taxi driver, I do apologize. It’s something no driver should have to go through."
Bitat, 59, described the incident, stating that he was attacked by a crowd while driving down Seventh Avenue at 36th Street around 12:30 a.m. He reported that the crowd pulled him from the cab and physically assaulted him, leading to a diabetic attack and significant trauma. Bitat indicated that he may not return to driving due to the experience, expressing disbelief at the risks involved in his job.
As part of his plea deal, Vargas was ordered to pay $500 in restitution. The Knicks later won the NBA Finals in Game 5, having previously erased a 29-point deficit in the closing minutes of Game 4. Vargas turned himself in to police after learning he was wanted for criminal mischief following the viral video of the incident.