Taxi Nightmare: "I have a gun."

One evening about midnight I picked up a man with an athletic bag on Third Street near the SFPD station.  He directed me to drive "straight ahead"--pointing south, out Third Street into the Bayview district.  I started moving and asked him to please be more precise, where are we going, an address or a business.  (This choice of directing a taxi driver without giving a destination is often linked to an assault or robbery of a driver, so the driver will likely behave strangely.)  He said, "Just drive, I'll tell you when to turn."  I asked again where we were going.  He said, "Look, I have a gun in this bag, do I have to show you?"
"No."
I continued at the speed limit, but I began running red lights.  I hoped some police cruiser would
see and take offense.  My passenger asked, "Do you always drive like this?"
"Like What?"
He said nothing.
I ran 20 red lights without incident.  He directed me to a bar on San Bruno Avenue.  We stopped, he handed me $20.00 for the 12.00 so far and told me, "Wait for me.  There'll be more 20's in it for you."
"Sure."
He took the bag and stepped from the car.  I watched him walk into the bar.  I then rolled off and stopped a block away.  I was starting to shake, and I radio'd cab dispatch.  He told me to sit tight, police would be on the way.  They showed up in about 2 minutes.  We drove back to the bar. The man was sitting on the ground in front of the bar with the bag.  The police searched the man and the bag, at that point there was no gun.  They told him he couldn't say that stuff to a cab driver.  They cuffed the man and put him in their car, I believe for drunk.  They dismissed me and I drove away.

I felt backed up by the SFPD.  I was pleased my call didn't fall on deaf ears.  I continued shaking, burning off the adrenalin, and when I calmed, I returned to the road.