ABOVE WATCH: Calgary police have now tracked down a man accused in an incident involving a cab driver in April. This comes just one week after our Global exclusive series that profiled an extreme case of racism and abuse, where the RCMP did not lay charges. Global’s Nancy Hixt reports.
CALGARY – A man has been charged with assault after slapping a Calgary taxi driver, ripping off his dashboard camera and fleeing without paying for the fare.
The incident happened on April 18 and resulted in minor injuries for the cabbie. Police said there was significant damage to the HD camera, which cost the driver several hundred dollars to repair.
Police said the driver picked up two men in the 2200 block of Centre Street North and drove them downtown. During the ride, police said the two men “suddenly wanted to exit the cab” so the cab driver pulled over in the 6 Avenue and 1 Street S.W. area.
“The front passenger then open-hand slapped the driver’s face, and tore off the HD dashboard camera,” said a release from police. “Both men ran from the cab without paying for the fare.”
Jeffrey Thomas Gasson, 32, was arrested in northwest Calgary on Sunday. He’s been charged with assault, mischief to property and transportation fraud. He’s set to appear in court on September 14.
The incident comes a week after Global News exposed a disturbing and graphic video of a passenger launching a vicious verbal and racist attack on a Calgary cab driver. RCMP have since reopened an investigation into the case.
READ MORE: Shocking case of racist cabbie abuse in Calgary caught on video
Watch below: Further allegations have come forward about possible improprieties by the way the RCMP handled the investigation into a Calgary cab driver assault that happened two years ago. Nancy Hixt reports on July 24.
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