A Penticton taxi company said it is devastated by the allegations facing two of their drivers who are accused of sexually assaulting a female passenger.
Simon Smith, the supervisor of Courtesy Cabs, said the pair were immediately suspended in mid-October after the company was informed of the allegations.
“This is horrible, it is making me sick,” he said. “We are all devastated.”
Penticton RCMP said it is investigating the alleged sexual assault of a female taxi passenger, involving the cab driver and another man.
Smith confirmed both men worked for Courtesy Cabs.
The woman was picked up near the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre in Penticton on Oct. 17 just before 5:00 p.m., police said.
She was taken to a residence where the alleged assault occurred.
Sgt. Jason Bayda said a 36-year-old man from Osoyoos and a 28-year-old man from Penticton have been arrested and released on conditions to have no contact with the victim.
Police said the victim knew the cab driver and the alleged attack was not random.
Smith said one of the suspended drivers allegedly told dispatch he was cleared by police and could return to work.
The driver was back on the road over the weekend before supervisors became aware of the situation, and took him off the job once again.
“We apologize for this as it should not have happened,” Smith wrote on Facebook.
“We are more than willing to assist the victim and the RCMP in their effort in bringing this to justice.”
The alleged offender’s return-to-work prompted outrage from the victim, and a social media post urging people to boycott the taxi company has been widely circulated online.
“I’d like to assure them that there is nothing to fear here from Courtesy Taxi, this is not Courtesy Taxi, this is two individuals, two bad apples that have (allegedly) done these awful things,” Smith told Global News.
“I stand behind the victim and the women in this community, 100 per cent, and so does our company.”
Smith added that cameras will be installed in its fleet of vehicles and all drivers must clear a criminal record check.
Bayda said the matter is still under investigation and a report will be forwarded to the BC Prosecution Service for charge assessment once complete.
The names of the two men involved have not been released.
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