By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

RCMP investigating reported assault of woman by Nanaimo taxi driver

Dec 21, 2017 | 11:15 AM

NANAIMO — RCMP are investigating a report of a woman being assualted by a taxi driver in Nanaimo.

The alleged incident happened on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 2:30 a.m., at what RCMP called an undisclosed central Nanaimo location.

Cst. Gary O’Brien said the alleged victim reported she was assaulted after the taxi driver didn’t take her where she asked to go.

“She fought off the driver and left the area unharmed. Later that day she provided a statement to a neighbouring detachment because she does not reside in Nanaimo.”

O’Brien wouldn’t reveal where the alleged assault happened or what taxi company was involved. He said the cab company is cooperating with the investigation, which he said is “moving forward.”

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O’Brien said the suspect is dark skinned with facial hair. He wouldn’t reveal if there were any witnesses.

The alleged victim told APTN News the incident happened in Bowen Park behind the outdoor pool. In the APTN News report, the woman didn’t recall the taxi company involved, but said the car was blue.

The woman told APTN News she panicked when the cab driver wouldn’t respond to questions of where they were going. She said there was another vehicle with five or six men standing around when the car stopped at Bowen Park.

O’Brien explained why police reported the incident to the public now, nearly a month after it’s alleged to have occured.

“We have allow the investigation to continue. There are steps we have to follow and if we provide information too soon to the public we can go off in the wrong direction. Our investigators have been dealing with this on a daily basis but we’re at the point now where we feel we should advise the public and we’re looking for assistance.”

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