WARNING: This story contains graphic content. Discretion is advised.
CALGARY – A Calgary taxi cab driver says he’s overwhelmed by the support he’s received after an exclusive Global News series exposed a vicious and racist tirade against him from a passenger.
Thirty-five-year-old Sardar Qayyum captured the entire exchange on a dashboard-mounted camera. The footage was recently obtained by Global News.
READ MORE: Shocking case of racist cabbie abuse in Calgary caught on video
On the tape, the passenger asked to stop at a fast food restaurant. Qayyum agreed but said the taxi chit was about to expire. The passenger goes on to say, “you son-of-a-bitch, you f—ing c—sucker, go back to where are from” and, “what, are you going to f—ing going to do, strap a bomb to your body, huh?”
Watch below: Global News has obtained disturbing and graphic video of a passenger launching a vicious verbal and racist attack on a Calgary cab driver.
Since the story was brought forward, Qayyum has received messages of support from across the country.
“It’s really, really, giving me the courage,” he said.
Global News initially agreed to blur the passengers face in order to obtain the video but has since learned the identity of the man. Sources have confirmed the passenger in the video is Chad Pasloski. Despite numerous attempts, Global News was unable to reach him for comment.
Pasloski took a cab home from a company party when the incident occurred. He used a company taxi chit to pay his fare. Global News contacted his employer, Alcro Electric, for comment, but the president of the company failed to return our requests.
Criminal and human rights lawyer and former crown prosecutor Jeinis Patel is having trouble understanding why RCMP officers only re-opened the case after Global News aired the video.
“When you see something that is racially motivated—and I do believe this was racially motivated—and there’s enough justification in the video to support that, you wonder why the police officer did not pursue the charges,” said Patel.
After the assault, Qayyum filed a complaint with police and while the passenger paid for damage to the cab, RCMP decided not to lay charges.
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Qayyum didn’t feel the investigating officer took him seriously when he originally brought his complaint forward.
“She (the RCMP officer) said it’s a waste of time of court because there is nothing in it. (She said) he’s a nice guy, he’s ready to pay, he has no criminal record.”
The RCMP have since reopened their investigation after Global News contacted them.
READ MORE: RCMP reopen investigation into disturbing abuse of Calgary cabbie
“The file was reviewed by the commanding officer for the Airdrie detachment and he has deemed there were areas that could be followed up on,” said RCMP Cpl. Sharon Franks on Tuesday. “The investigation has been reopened.”
Watch below: The RCMP have re-opened the case involving a vicious racial attack on a Calgary cabbie, after reports from Global News.
Global News has been contacted by dozens of cab drivers who have encountered similar abuse.
Statistics are hard to track: while some cases are reported to police and some to cab companies, others are never reported at all.
The City of Calgary is trying to change racist attitudes with a passenger and driver bill of rights is now posted in all taxis.
“It doesn’t really matter if someone is living two years, three years, 200 years. We are Canadian,” said Qayyum.
“We are proud to be living in this country as a Canadian citizen.”
READ MORE: Ottawa cab driver goes on racist tirade after refusing to move for ambulance
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