P.E.I. RCMP investigating alleged assault in taxi

A Mount Mellick, P.E.I., woman has filed a formal complaint withRCMP, after she alleges a cab driverassaulted her in the front passenger seatearly Sunday morning.

I had been drinking, but that doesn't make it okay. What happenedhappened.- Jessica Moore

"We were driving over theHillsboroughBridge, and that's when he grabbed me. He grabbed my chest forcefully," Jessica Moore told CBC.

"I had to push his hand off me. It was just awful Then he's like 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.' Apologizing doesn't make it okay."

'He got to drive away'

Moore said she immediately called 911, and the driver let her out at a gas station on the Stratford side of the bridge. She said there were already twoRCMPofficers on scene.

"Ijumped out of the car and started screaming. And [the officer]put me in the back of the police car, and was talking to the cab driver for a minute, and then let him drive away," she said.

Moore claimsboth maleofficers laughed at her, then offered to take her the rest of the way home.

"I told them what happened, but it didn't seem like they cared because I heard the cab driver say 'she's just drunk, let her go.' And then he got to drive away," she said.

Complaint filed, police investigating

"I had been drinking, but that doesn't make it okay. What happened happened."

Moore finally reached anotherRCMPofficer late Sunday to file her complaint against the cab driver.

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RCMPspokesperson Sgt.LeanneButler confirmed police are now investigating the assault allegations, though no charges have been laid.

The driver told CBC he doesn't want his name published, but denies an assault took place.

Cab company suspends driver

In the meantime Good Taxi Service said ithassuspended the driver while theRCMPinvestigation is underway.

Owner Kenny Good said he found out about the allegations Sunday afternoon after Moore wrotea post onFacebookdetailing her side of the story.

The post has been shared thousands of times.

"To see this allegation is very disturbing, probably one of the worst nightmares for a taxi company owner," said Good.

"My biggest concern is that all the men and women who work for me are going to be labelled. We're a good bunch of people, we respect our customers, and do not promote any kind of behaviour like that."

'We take every possible precaution'

Good said the driver like all his employees had gone through criminal record and vulnerable sector checks before being hired.

"Taxis in Charlottetown are safe," said Good. "We take every possible precaution to prevent incidents like this. All companies do, not just mine."

Still, Moore said she'll likely never take a cab again, and has some advice for women who will.

"Don't ever get in a cab alone. Maybe request a female driver, and be safe."

RCMP say they will look into her complaint about the alleged conduct of the two officers if Moore files a formal complaint.

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