Maple Ridge RCMP seek suspect who allegedly assaulted taxi driver

A suspect accused of assaulting a taxi driver in Maple Ridge on Sept. 17 is seen in this image handed out by the RCMP.

Mounties in Maple Ridge, B.C., are asking the public for help to identify a suspect who allegedly assaulted a taxi driver two months ago.

According to police, officers were alerted to the assault near the intersection of Sheldrake Court and Fern Crescent around 2:45 p.m. on Sept. 17, after the taxi driver picked up the suspect at an establishment in the 12900 block of 232^nd Street.

“The driver was then directed to the current location before the suspect abruptly told the driver to stop and immediately began assaulting him. The victim received injuries to his face due to multiple punches being thrown at him,” a Friday news release from the Ridge Meadows RCMP reads.

Police say the suspect also broke the taxi’s windshield and attempted to break its CCTV camera, and then fled.

“This was unprovoked assault on an innocent victim that also involved property damage and occurred in the middle of the day where it was witnessed by multiple people in our community,” Insp. Martin Guay said, in the release. “As a result, we would like the public’s assistance in identifying this individual and holding him accountable for his actions.”

The suspect is described as a white man in his mid-to-late 50s with a “stocky build.”

The Ridge Meadows RCMP asked anyone with information to call 604-463-6251 or leave an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers.