Halifax police investigate fifth sex assault allegedly involving cab driver

Halifax police are investigating a fifth sexual assault involving a cab driver, and say the suspect’s description raises the possibility of a connection with other recent attacks.

“There’s some similarities in some of the suspect descriptions, so we’re looking at…the possibility that there could be the same individual in some of the instances, at least,” said Halifax Regional Police Const. Dianne Woodworth in an interview Thursday.

The most recent incident, reported to police on July 19, is the fifth alleged sexual assault since May in which a victim described being assaulted by a cab driver. A 44-year-old man was charged earlier this month, shortly after one of the alleged assaults.

“It’s always a concern whenever we have people that are sexually assaulted, but five in a short duration is very concerning…These are positions of trust, you’re getting into a vehicle thinking that you’re going to be taken home safely,” said Woodworth. 

A woman told police she was picked up in Halifax between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. on July 15 by a man driving a car with a roof light. The vehicle was a white, older-model four-door car.

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Upon arrival at her destination, the woman asked how much she owed for the ride and the driver said he was having problems with the meter that would take a few minutes to fix.

Then police say the man tried to kiss the woman, locked her door and touched her in a “sexual manner” over her clothing without her consent. The woman was able to get out of the car and get to a friend’s home.

Police say the man spoke with an accent, and wore strong cologne. He was described as about five-feet-seven-inches, with short dark hair and a pronounced nose.

Police also said the man was described as “possibly of Middle Eastern descent,” an identifier used to describe the suspect in three prior incidents. Critics have said police should avoid the label, as it perpetuates damaging stereotypes and is too vague to be of use as a descriptor.

Woodworth said investigators are following down every available lead, including trying to track down taxi locations at the times of the incidents, where possible.

“Some of the vehicles — I’m not saying the ones involved with this — have GPS, so we’re running all those angles, and working with the cab companies,” she said. “They’ve been very helpful to us because they want to bring a conclusion to these incidents as well.”

Ruth Davenport, The Canadian Press