Shamrock Taxi owner found dead

Shamrock Taxi proprietor Brice Mclane was found dead in his Lewes home at noon, Wednesday, Jan. 5, perhaps bringing a temporary truce to what police have called the taxi wars –multiple accusations and disputes between dueling local cab companies.

Lewes Police Chief Jeffrey Horvath said he believes Mclane, 58, had been under the care of a doctor the day before. The police department is awaiting a report from the medical examiner, but Horvath said there appeared to be no foul play, and Mclane likely died of health-related issues.

Dewey Beach police arrested Mclane New Year’s Day on felony charges. Police were called to a dispute outside of The Starboard Restaurant and Bar on Route 1, just before 8 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 1.

Vincent Manuele, owner of Comfort Ride Taxi, with offices in Lewes and Dewey, told police Mclane threatened to kill him and pulled a knife on him.

“I guess he was there all day drinking,” Manuele said. The Comfort Ride owner said he and two of his drivers pulled up to The Starboard to drop off passengers Saturday evening.

Manuele said Mclane, unhappy about the presence of the rival company, approached his car, pulled a knife out of his pocket, and tried to stab him in the chest. When Manuele tried to escape, he said Mclane pinned him in the car, and two Comfort Ride drivers behind him called Dewey Beach police.

After officers arrived, they located Mclane in The Starboard and said they believed he was drunk. Police initially failed to find the knife, but surveillance cameras later showed Mclane had thrown his knife in a trashcan. Police say they retrieved the weapon and took Mclane to the police department in Dewey Beach where he was charged with disorderly conduct, aggravated menacing, terroristic threatening and possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. Police reported Mclane was then taken before the justice of peace and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution in lieu of a $9,500 secured bond. He was later released.

Barbara Harding, one of the Comfort Ride cab drivers who witnessed the incident in Dewey Beach, said she saw Mclane driving a Shamrock cab Monday, Jan. 3.

“How is he allowed to continue to work when there are charges against him?” Harding said. Harding said during the New Year’s Day incident, she was parked behind Manuele’s cab, with one taxi in between her and Manuele.

Harding said she saw Mclane falling down drunk and leaning into Manuele’s vehicle, screaming. She said Mclane pulled out a knife and threatened to kill Manuele in front of Comfort Ride passengers exiting and entering the vehicles and 10 to 20 people standing outside of The Starboard.

Manuele said Mclane worked as a driver for Comfort Ride in 2009. He said Mclane left voluntarily and started his own business.

Comfort Ride driver Leslie Small was arrested in 2009 and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his passenger, June McCarson, an elderly woman of Lewes.
Small was also indicted for possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony, first-degree robbery during the commission of a felony, second-degree burglary and one count of possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited.

Shamrock Taxi’s website says the company was founded to provide a safe and secure option for year round and elderly Delaware residents. Manuele and Harding said since Shamrock began operating March 17, Mclane has been verbally abusive towards the entire staff of Comfort Ride and often visibly drunk. “This is an ongoing thing with Shamrock,” Harding said. “I haven’t felt safe all summer.” Harding, who has worked for Comfort Ride for three years, said she notified Dewey Beach police numerous times in the last year about Mclane’s behavior.

Manuele said he and his staff reported Shamrock to Delaware State Troop 7 and reported Mclane to Delaware Department of Transportation several times.

“He has a really bad problem with drinking and drugs,” said Manuele, who started Comfort Ride five years ago after relocating from New York.

“Dewey police did their job. Sgt. Dempsey was like a hero; he was great,” Manuele said. “We’re waiting for DelDOT to take some action.”

DelDOT Public Relations Manager Michael Williams said police and Manuele notified department officials of the incident New Year’s Day. “We have to consider the fact that people are innocent until proven guilty,” Williams said. Without a conviction, Williams said, charges would not have put Mclane’s business in jeopardy.

Representatives of Shamrock Taxi declined to comment.