Stories of 2010, #2 Attack on a taxi driver

The driver reached over to assist the youth in buckling up his seatbelt and that is when the boy struck.

He slashed at the driver twice, hitting him in the face and left forearm, causing a five-inch laceration through his cheek and his left forearm had been cut down to the muscle. The driver also lost three teeth, and three more were cracked.

“I remember chewing my gum, and I could feel pieces of teeth in there,” said the cab driver in his police statement.

The shocked driver wrestled the weapon away from the young man, so the boy began choking him.

Luckily, the cab driver was able to get away and despite his injuries, was overjoyed he was still alive.
“I thought I was going to die,” said the cab driver.

“As I was walking away from the vehicle, to tell you the truth, I was ecstatic. Like, I got chopped in the head, and here I am, walking away.”

The cab driver then flagged down a nearby police cruiser. The officers chased the boy and caught him. They discovered the boy was not only carrying a machete, but also had 16 bullets in his pocket.

Later in court, the Crown prosecutor said some people who had seen the boy prior to the attack claimed he was not only carrying a machete, but also a .22 caliber rifle and ammunition and that he said he was planning on robbing a 7-11.

If the attack wasn't enough, there was further outrage when Justice Hugh Harradence released the boy on bail.

“I’m absolutely appalled that they would release somebody that did such a violent attack on a $100 bond,” said the manager of Checker Taxi, Russ McCloy, when the boy was first released.

McCloy said it wasn’t the first time one of his drivers had been assaulted, but he called it the most brutal attack his company had ever seen. He later installed protective shields in some of the company’s cabs.

While out on bail, the youth breached his conditions by staying out past his curfew. He also was caught searching through a truck, and gave police officers a false date of birth. Again, he was released on $100 bail.

He was eventually remanded in November after failing to show up for his trial.
The youth, now 15, changed his plea to guilty of aggravated assault and two breaches of recognizance.

In court, the youth was given a chance to speak — he began to apologize to the cab driver before breaking down in tears.

“My initial reaction… I was thinking ‘Is there a crocodile in here?’” said the cab driver, unimpressed with the apology.

The Crown prosecutor said a psychological assessment of the boy suggested he has a high risk of reoffending.

The prosecutor said the boy has been involved in a street gang called “West Side” since he was 11 years old.

The report also said he is easily influenced and has a drug problem.

The defence lawyer said the boy had no previous criminal record, and had been on good behavior since being in remand.

She said the boy only planned to rob the cab driver, not harm him, but panicked when the driver reached towards him to help with the seatbelt. The lawyer suggested her client felt the driver was going to touch him inappropriately.

She also said the boy’s father committed suicide, was also deeply affected by the passing of his grandfather, and was bullied in school.

The youth ended up receiving an 22 month sentence less double time served. The last 18 months is split equally between closed custody, open custody and supervision.

Meanwhile, the cab driver is moving on with his life, having gone back to work for Checker Taxi.

However, he is constantly reminded of what happened that night just by looking in the mirror, where a scar runs from his left cheek to his lip.

rpilon@panow.com

Previous stories from 2010's top 10:

Stories of 2010, #10 Relay for Life success

Stories of 2010, #9 Fire Mentor Program cancelled

Stories of 2010, #8 First Nations University nearly closes

Stories of 2010, #7 Emotional rollercoaster around pulp mill

Stories of 2010, #6 Spring brings serious crime

Stories of 2010, #5 Memories of the Olympic torch

Stories of 2010, #4 Wet weather brought farming fright

Stories of 2010, #3 Storm wreaks havoc in the city

by Ryan Pilon

Stories of 2010, #2 Attack on a taxi driver

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