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Robbery, assault, stolen vehicle in pair of taxi robberies in St. John's

Police arrest alleged drunk driver heading in wrong direction on TCH off-ramp

Police in St. John's are investigating a pair of robberies involving taxis that happened early Tuesday morning in St. John's, with one of the drivers also reporting an assault.

Rod Matthews says his 67-year-old father is "extremely shaken up" after he was allegedly robbed and assaulted in the taxi he drives.

Matthews said his father was driving his City Wide taxi — a van — and took a call around 5:30 a.m. in the Cornwall Crescent area of the west end of St. John's.

A "young fella" got in the sliding door of the van and behind his father, he said, and "basically held my father with what seemed to be a gun," adding that his father wasn't completely sure if a gun or a weapon was involved.

Police confirmed later Tuesday that the suspect reportedly had a firearm.

"After the man basically commits the crime and stole the money from him, he had to hit him twice."

He said the alleged assault "split his [father's] earlobe."

"He's a 67-year-old man with diabetes," he said. "First time in 25 years he said anything remotely happened along these lines."

His father went to the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary after the assault, he said, adding he was planning to St. Clare's Mercy Hospital to be checked out.

Taxi stolen, crashed

Police in a release confirmed they are investigating the incident, as well as another robbery involving a taxi that happened a short time later.

A second driver reported being called to Amherst Place to pick up a fare, when a male with a firearm got in the taxi.

The driver got out of the car and fled, and the man took off with the vehicle, which he crashed, and then fled the scene on foot with another male.

In both of the incidents, the man was described as wearing a dark, possibly grey, hoodie.

Police dogs were called to the area, but unable to track down the suspect or suspects. The RNC's major crime unit is still investigating and anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

Meanwhile, Matthews said his father will go back to driving a cab, but perhaps not at night anymore.

"He's a stubborn old man," he said. "He will go back."

With files from Fred Hutton

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