St. Petersburg taxi incident sparks investigation after alleged assault and robbery
A taxi driver in St. Petersburg reported an alarming incident to the authorities, accusing a pair of passengers of assault and theft while en route to their destination. The driver’s account, relayed to the police, describes a confrontation that began when the rider attempted to settle the fare. The driver allegedly struck the man in the head and kicked him, while a woman in the back seat discharged a gas spray toward the driver, obscuring his vision and provoking a dangerous exchange inside the vehicle. Following the assault, the driver claims two mobile phones, valued at about 7.5 thousand rubles, were removed from the car by the assailants as they reached their stop. The driver, who survived the incident, stated that his attackers fled the scene on foot before officers arrived to investigate.
Law enforcement agents moved quickly to detain one of the suspects, who turned out to be a car mechanic with a troubling record. The man has prior convictions for a range of offenses, including drug offenses, property damage, and theft. A criminal case has been opened, and the detainee has been placed in a temporary detention facility as investigators compile evidence and interview witnesses. The incident underscores ongoing concerns around passenger safety and driver security in urban taxi services, prompting authorities to review protocols and reinforce monitoring during and after trips.
In a separate note on local traffic enforcement, a police vehicle participating in a pursuit on Sakhalin recently collided, highlighting the challenges that emergency responders sometimes face in high-speed situations. While unrelated to the St. Petersburg case, the incident serves as a reminder of the volatile conditions that can arise during rapid responses to on-road incidents, and the broader need for clear procedures to protect both officers and civilians in tense moments.