North Vancouver RCMP officers are hoping the public can help them identify a suspect in a serious assault on a taxi driver.
Police say just before midnight on Aug. 25, a taxi was carrying a passenger eastbound on East 29 Street towards Lynn Valley. That is when someone threw a 375ml Bombay Sapphire gin bottle at the taxi, breaking the driver’s window and striking the driver in the head.
The driver suffered cuts to his face and a broken tooth but was still able to pull over and safely stop the cab.
His female passenger in the back seat was hit by flying glass but did not get injured.
The driver was treated at Lions Gate Hospital, and has since been released.
Police say a bag of tomatoes was discovered near the scene and they think the suspect may have been throwing them before deciding to throw the liquor bottle. They also found a skateboard, which might have been left by the suspect.
“This was a reckless and violent act,” said Sgt. Doug Trousdell, spokesperson for the North Vancouver RCMP, in a release. “Throwing anything at moving traffic, whether it be bottles or tomatoes, is incredibly dangerous. Fortunately this didn’t turn out to be even more serious.”
Police encourage anyone with any information about this incident to contact the RCMP at (604)985-1311 or CrimeStoppers (1-800-222-8477) quote file number 2016-22114.