ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orange County Sheriff's dive team is done for the day after searching for evidence in the case of a missing cab driver.
Michael Smith, 59, is a freelance taxi driver for Holiday Transport, a small local taxi company. Last week, Smith's cab was found at the edge of Lake Sunset in Orlando. It was burned and abandoned. The dive team is assisting in the Orlando Police Department case. Water in Lake Sunset can be up to 30 feet deep.
Police say his taxi was found last Friday at 8:45 a.m. at the intersection of Lake Sunset Drive and Ohio Avenue and it appears someone tried to drive the vehicle into the lake.
For the past week, Bernadette Franklin has watched detectives and bloodhounds in her quiet neighborhood.
"That's when we discovered that they had possibly found blood on the side of the cab and blood on the back of the trunk that's what was told to me by detectives and officers," said Franklin.
"We're taking it amongst ourselves to be more cautious as far as our surroundings," said Franklin.
According to police, foul play is suspected and there is concern for Smith's safety.
"We heard that night, I did, heard about 2 o'clock in the morning, several gunshots," said Franklin.
Smith is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing approximately 135 pounds and walking with a limp.
Call Orlando police if you have any information on his whereabouts. There is a reward of up to $5,000.