NEW DETAILS:
Police announced shortly after 10pm Wednesday night (August 24) that they have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with the stabbing.
The suspect is being held in custody until he makes a court appearance.
His name has not been released at this time.
EARLIER STORY:
KAMLOOPS — A Kamloops Taxi Driver remains in Royal Inland Hospital in serious condition tonight, after being stabbed by a passenger while on the job early this morning.
Police were called just before 2 am to Pleasant Street and 8th Avenue where a Kami Cab Driver was attacked while dropping off a customer.
The RCMP Serious Crime Unit is now on the hunt for the male passenger involved, and they’re hoping surveillance video will help identify the suspect.
Surveillance video of the suspect wanted in connection to the stabbing of a Kamloops taxi driver. The images captured at a Kamloops gas station shortly before the violent attack.
“It’s a shocking thing for everyone in town here, everybody I speak to is honestly shocked, everybody’s deeply concerned for his safety and everyone else’s safety at this time,” says Satinder Mann, General Manager of Kami Cabs Ltd.
Just before 2am Wednesday, Kami cab driver Cal Huntington was dispatched to the Husky Station in Sahali. He picked up a man and drove him to Pleasant Street near 8th Avenue. It was there, things took a turn for the worst and Huntington was stabbed. The incident sending shock waves through the entire company.
“He’s been an employee of the company since 2007, he’s a great person to deal with and a very nice gentleman, and I don’t know what would happen for someone to do any such act,” says Mann.
The RCMP Serious Crime Unit is now on the hunt for the lone male passenger, who was last seen running from the Pleasant Street area.
“It doesn’t appear a robbery occurred, we don’t have any information on whether there was an altercation or not, we have to get more information from the cab driver who was in very serious condition last night so we could only ask a few questions,” says Cpl. Jodi Shelkie, Kamloops RCMP.
Unsure of what motivated the assault, police are appealing to the public for information and say the incident is concerning for all taxi drivers, who often put their lives on the line.
“As a cab driver they don’t know who they’re picking up and it can be a high risk situation, and there are things you can do to mitigate that, but it comes down to the fact they are somebody in a car by themselves with somebody they don’t know,” says Cpl. Shelkie.
Cal Huntington, a 9 year employee of Kami Cabs, is described as polite and professional and wasn’t known to have run ins with customers. General Manager Satinder Mann says emloyee safety is always top priority.
“We do let our drivers know, do not argue with any of the clients, if they don’t want to pay you it’s okay let them go, if they’re asking for money trying to rob you it’s okay give them your money, your safety is our first priority, it could be a $20 or $50 fare but your life is worth more than that,” says Mann.
The company is now looking into further safety measures, like installing protective glass or cameras in cars. Meanwhile, police are hoping surveillance pictures will help identify the suspect. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information about the suspect is asked to call police at 250-828-3000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477
